If you go the bokeh-server route you can avoid a lot of the JS and use python functions as callbacks instead. However for my work, being able to pass around standalone interactive htmls in lieu of static report figures etc. is the main attraction, so I’ve primarily learned the CustomJS route for things.
… I often post “hard/impossible to me” questions here and have been super lucky to have the brilliant core devs (the real “hackers” here 
) help me out. I’m just trying to give back by providing support for others in kind when I actually can solve their problem 