Because they are afraid of the DOM and yell at each other about code style?
This is common, but it’s still very junior thinking.
The best way to minimize tech debt is to supply the most direct solution to a given problem and refactor along the way to bring similar solutions together into a single delivery. Decoration in the code is not that.
I am very familiar with the DOM and have no problem using the DOM apis. You seem to have no experience writing complex Web apps, and seem to give little thought to maintainability. I'd never hire you.
This is common, but it’s still very junior thinking.
The best way to minimize tech debt is to supply the most direct solution to a given problem and refactor along the way to bring similar solutions together into a single delivery. Decoration in the code is not that.