Flash didn't start out with a scripting language. In fact, Flash wasn't supposed to do more than vectors until quite a bit later. It would do bitmaps, but they would bloat your *.swf to some ungodly size back when folks only had dialup.

PHP communication and inquiries, as well as embedded SQLite and AIR and ActionScript 3 and H.264 or cachedBitmap and StageVideo and Stage3D came much later... and I'm just getting started.

Flash in the very beginning was very basic. The stuff I do now with it or Adobe Flex, I didn't think I could have done just 4 years ago.

The growth of HTML5 is needed in so many key areas that already exist in many other programming languages. Security and ability to dole out media in a more secure way without having to handcuff itself to restrictive DRM or any other RIAA tactic that will invariably limit how it grows from those with very little technical know-how is going to be the next hurdle.

But as it stands, until I can build a dynamic interface with it that works not only in Chrome and Safari but also IE7/8/9 and Firefox and have it secure my data and assets, HTML5 is still on my list of abilities, but it's not fit for everything.

Having JavaScript do all of the animation(s) and not do it via Canvas != HTML5 either. Most of the best HTML5 demos are even better jQuery demos honestly.