i absolutely hate how the modern web just fails to load if one has javascript turned off. i, as a user, should be able to switch off javascript and have the site work exactly as it does with javascript turned on. it’s not a hard concept, people.
but you ask candidates to explain “graceful degradation” and they’ll sit and look at you with a blank stare.
Depending on the web app, the real solution would be a much more simplified JavaScript free version
Why spend time and money on something that will end up being only half functional. It costs money to support that.