Its truly not that hard to create multiple browser compliant javascript and html. And quite frankly, if it weren't for javascript and graphical websites, the web would be a far more boring place. The problem is that the majority of people out there don't take the time to work on compliancy, because they have a specific browser preference and that's all that matters to them.
Put in the time and effort and you can produce a workable design that offers the info without crashing your browser or overloading slow connections. That's what seperates a designer from a dabbler. If people wanted websites that were text only without mouseover effects and javascript functionality, then web designers wouldn't be needed, they'd have text files instead.
And finally, CSS, while wonderful in a lot of cases, has its own issues. Its wonderfully functional, but very global as well. The font tag is far more identifable when scanning through code. Personally, I use both for the double insurance it provides, keeping compatability with older browsers while utilizing the features offered by CSS.
It all comes down to 'The value you get is the work you put in.'