IMO the important part is that the DOM API is now consistent across browsers. I don't really have any problem using document.getElementById instead of $, the issue was handling events and so on. These days, addEventListener works in every browser. New additions like classList.add/classList.remove are just bonuses.
As for the chainable syntax, I'm honestly in two minds about it. It's incredibly powerful, but some of the worst JS I've ever seen has been written in endless jQuery chain statements.
As for the chainable syntax, I'm honestly in two minds about it. It's incredibly powerful, but some of the worst JS I've ever seen has been written in endless jQuery chain statements.