The fundamental advantage of TypeScript (vs other languages like Scala.js) was that it could easily leverage the entire Node.js (EDIT: JavaScript) ecosystem and vice versa in a very smooth way.
Deno goes in the wrong direction. It's a TS fanboy invention in search of a problem.
TS by itself is a great language even without the JS support. The Node ecosystem has a lot of shortcomings which Deno aims to solve. I disagree with your assertion that Deno is a fanboy invention in search of a problem. If the creator of Node, started Deno, then obviously there is some merit to his thought process.
There is still a lot of friction using Typescript for just about any Nodejs project. Things have definitely improved, but it is still a far cry compared to first class language support.
I’m curious what you think is the right direction Deno should have taken.
Deno goes in the wrong direction. It's a TS fanboy invention in search of a problem.
And I say that as a TypeScript fanboy.