I think we're beyond Flash because not only do we have the tools but we also have the experience for what works and what definitely doesn't. Flash was a good example of 'all the gear and no idea'. (I was guilty of this back in the day).
I feel designers are a lot more respectful (timid?) and aware of what they deliver now meaning these tools will hopefully be used in a more responsible way!
As someone who is pushing what SVG can do in terms of interactivity and animation I am saddened to see such a hard working and talented person person like Amelia struggling like this. She has helped me on numerous occasion with various issues over the years and her knowledge of SVG and its quirks and foibles is extensive.
If anyone is questioning the relevance or flexibility of SVG or its ease of use check my CodePen stuff - with a library like Greensock you can do almost anything with SVG http://codepen.io/chrisgannon/
I am a Pro and to legally avoid this I could create pens that are private but then nobody would learn anything from them and I wouldn't get them featured anywhere. So people can use them as long as they include a license which, let me assure you from bitter experience, nobody ever does.
Judging by the fact you said you won't use it, you seem to have a working moral compass - unfortunately you are a minority.
I'm just saying as the original designer/artist I don't give permission, regardless of the MIT license (which I disagree with on CodePen but that's another story).
I started learning SVG going through all the jenkov examples - really great resource. The SVGs I create now are designed to be easy to understand because I wanted to pay it forward. Have a pick through my other pens and maybe my channel http://YouTube.com/+framespark
We clearly see design differently then. These lines of code are curved shapes that the bezier line will morph to.
Remember, just because you 'don't see how this kind of code is helpful for design' it doesn't mean that other people share your view. We all see things differently - a good thing to remember especially in these times.
Some people need those visual metaphors in order to create something. There are people who think differently (from you) and a CAD tool would simply be a hindrance. And if the resulting building is top quality why care how the blueprints were made?
Yes it is the best library by a mile and it has got lots of love in the dev/des community. A well maintained, paid library is preferable to a neglected open source library.
I'm fairly shocked too. I appreciate that lots of people don't understand this way of creating stuff but to suggest that programming and design are two separate entities is to deny an exciting approach to design in general.
Yes GIF is horrible but it's a necessary evil in this current social media climate.