The main problem with Chrome is that anything you do in it goes into Google’s surveillance network (or at least you can’t prove that it doesn’t). If some sites require Chrome, we can use Chrome just for those sites (and vote with our feet, not very many websites are really necessary). A web browser sitting on the disk not running most of the time probably isn’t a huge problem.

A lot of the internet doesn’t even need JavaScript enabled. I think we over-state the compatibility nightmare. I mean it depends on your use patterns of course…