Gregory's Server@slightlyoff I can't believe someone with your background and expertise comes out with this kind of reactionary crap. No doubt it can be optimised, but you know full well they are not just "showing 50k of text" are they?
Besides implementing a design system and branding (which may not be important to you but it is to them), they are also taking care of logging in, and general basic functionality, a/b testing, maybe some of those lovely interactive stories of theirs, etc
@gotofritz You say all this like there's is no alternative to doing it the most expensive way possible. As though the NYT online was not a thing before the invention of React/CSS-in-JS/etc.
Lead-plated vs. nothing is a false choice.