While you are correct, the problem compounds when popular package developers choose to use tiny packages.
I don't need left-pad.
But maybe I need react-starter-kit.
Now, imagine that react-starter-kit has a dependency to markdown-js-blobber, which has a dependency to make-text-nice, which has a dependency to left-pad.
In this scenario I am now "pulling in a package to pad a string". If I am "smart enough to use a package manager", I should be "more than capable to write..." an alternative to react-starter-kit..?
I don't place any blame here on the person using `react-starter-kit` and I think you're being a bit obtuse to suggest otherwise. It's the original person who pulled in a package for <10 lines of code who is to blame.
I don't need left-pad.
But maybe I need react-starter-kit.
Now, imagine that react-starter-kit has a dependency to markdown-js-blobber, which has a dependency to make-text-nice, which has a dependency to left-pad.
In this scenario I am now "pulling in a package to pad a string". If I am "smart enough to use a package manager", I should be "more than capable to write..." an alternative to react-starter-kit..?