This is often overlooked but is actually a big deal:
> ...it’s straightforward to modify JavaScript dependencies locally. I’ve often tweaked something in my local node_modules folder when I’m trying to track down a bug or work on a feature in a library I depend on. Whereas if it’s written in a native language, I’d need to check out the source code and compile it myself – a big barrier to entry.
I too often find myself inserting `console.log` inside node_modules to figure out why the toolchain doesn't work as I'm expecting it to. It has gotten me out of some very nasty situations when StackOverflow/Google/GPT didn't help at all.
Had it been written in Rust, I wouldn't have had a chance.