but modern JavaScript is just as quick to use. Eg, `fetch`, `querySelector`
That's one, trivial, part of JQuery. The real strength of Jquery is the countless UI widgets and libraries built on top of it. I can knock together a quick and easy UI using Jquery, Bootstrap and a handfull of Jquery UI widgets faster than with just about anything else.
Now, after learning new APIs for 2 years, I can put together a quick and easy UI using vanilla UI and CSS as fast as I could with jQuery. Particularly grid and flexbox have made a big difference (they fill the role of the old grid CSS frameworks, including that part of Bootstrap).
Your mileage may vary.
Also, the majority of third-party jQuery plugins are no longer maintained. Most of the JS world has moved on.
That's one, trivial, part of JQuery. The real strength of Jquery is the countless UI widgets and libraries built on top of it. I can knock together a quick and easy UI using Jquery, Bootstrap and a handfull of Jquery UI widgets faster than with just about anything else.