Disputable. Are web browsers the sytem or web-technologies (html, css,...)? Emacs has also browers, but with limited abilities, does that make emacs more malleable than web browsers, despite offering just a subset of them?
Anyway, I think one reason why web browsers are so successful despite offering that malleable experience is that 1) it was designed for this specific usecase, and at some point even enhanced direction from document- to app-environment, and 2) someone else is paying the price for it, so the users don't care and can just consum.
If emacs would receive as much money and competence as web-technologies and browsers received, it surelye would be a first-rate environment with excellent support for all users on all skill-levels. But then it probably would be just a web-stack of different name.
Anyway, I think one reason why web browsers are so successful despite offering that malleable experience is that 1) it was designed for this specific usecase, and at some point even enhanced direction from document- to app-environment, and 2) someone else is paying the price for it, so the users don't care and can just consum.
If emacs would receive as much money and competence as web-technologies and browsers received, it surelye would be a first-rate environment with excellent support for all users on all skill-levels. But then it probably would be just a web-stack of different name.