While HTML is hypertext markup language, hypertext is not HTML.

Hypertext doesn’t imply a specific encoding strategy, it implies semantics - data contains links to related data. If you want to encode it in protobufs - you do you, REST explicitly calls for freedom in this regard.

To paraphrase yourself, ranting about HTML as if it was a requirement for REST is ridiculous and misses the point entirely.

PS: HTML is not a protocol.

A cargo cult doesn’t change airplanes by building mock runways - they rather miss the point entirely.

You don’t need to have kids to pass on values. The basic premise of your statement doesn’t hold up.

Do not solve maintenance problems that you don’t face.