You didn't like my Wordpress plugin comparison!? I'll write it better. Package clutter, maintenance, integrity, updates, all those things are spinning plates. Similar to Wordpress' needy and naggy plugin ecosystem found there.
New coders/designers should spin less plates at once. Raw CSS animation, then JS loops, timers and manipulations. Add a one line easing function you find somewhere such as this excellent page: spicyyoghurt.com/tools/easing-functions, and this helps fulfil the "who codes" goal more than "who installs."
You're right there are libraries that will be used and useful. But don't be surprised if designer-types are not too fond of some backend-centric workflows and tools popular among programmers, Which is okay. Diversity of tools and approaches is a good thing. Aiming for minimal code sent to client is a good thing. Hope that leaves on a better note.
Oh good, I was worried you actually understood what it's like to be new and not very good at programming, as we all were, when we first started out.
That you're dragging in an unrelated rant about WordPress plugins tells me all I need to understand about where you're coming from.