> Given this, I'm curious: couldn't the traditional syntax of `let counter = 0` be made to function similarly to the new let count = $state(0);? Just transpile it to let count = $state(0) under the hood? If that can work technically, instead of introducing a new rune for reactivity, why not introduce a "negative" rune to denote non-reactive statements? This way, the change wouldn't break existing code; it would be more of a progressive enhancement.

exactly my thoughts, feels like they could've kept it much simpler