There's a large number of tools that expand the options available to you as a front end developer (as well as tools that are part of the ecosystem that supports the first set of tools). Basically all of those tools are built around the assumption that you can just use javascript.
You can build sites that function without that, that have javascript as an optional thing that spruces up the site for people who use it. But you will be putting in more effort. ReactJS (which Lesswrong 2.0 is built on), is built around the premise that you literally just use javascript for everything (HTML is rendered out of javascript files). This has a lot of benefits. You don't need to have three sorts of files (html, javascript, and css) for every component of your page, and it's generally easier to automatically test your site if you know what you're doing.
I don't think this was necessary or inevitable, but it is the way things have shook out.
Why not use something like.. werc? http://werc.cat-v.org/
Granted, if you're using Windows, you're out of luck.
Yeah, I apologize. Getting a complete copy of the database requires us to coordinate with Trike Apps and is a lot of work for everyone, so we are limiting the number of complete ports to 2 (i.e. one three months ago, and one on launch).
I am working on a merge-accounts feature, so while I can't absolutely guarantee one, it's very likely you will have the ability to merge your old LW account with any temporary account you create now.
(EDIT: Polls are broken or I did something incorrect. Lookat this:
[Which LessWrong had a better design?]{1.0}{2.0}{Results}
And help me fix this, please. Thanks!)
Do tell why your chosen design is better. I like the current design because
Neutral points:
Good points/improvement suggestions
Post Title
X days ago / Author name / Total points / <<<<<<< number of comments at the end of the universe
Text
Combine the post title and the date, author name and w/e into a single line. Also, possibly add sort by comments. Handy picture; functionality is already in. Decrease the width of the window to see it
More later(?)