[jazzypants]

None of what you said explained the appeal of OP's technique! Using JavaScript doesn't have to affect your reliability, accessibility, SEO, or any of the things you said. How am I supposed to do anything with useless information?

If anything, hiding the hamburger menu behind an HTTP response is *less accessible*!

[c-hendricks]

Not to mention the article's menu "close" button relies on JS to send you back to the correct page, and doesn't work with open in new tab / window even with JS enabled.