(note the vertical empty space between the two form fields is part of the layout), without JavaScript:
There at least needs to be a vertical gap between the hint message and the next field under it, so that it's clear which field the hint is referring to.
But what I would suggest instead: if the ORCID <label> just has a title attribute whose value was the hint message, then it would work as a standard HTML tooltip, which would be almost exactly the same as our JavaScript tooltip. Or you could even still include the (i) icon in the no-js version and just put a title on it, even more similar.
seanh
commented
8 years ago 
Move activity pages error messages under form fields
With JavaScript:
(note the vertical empty space between the two form fields is part of the layout), without JavaScript:
There at least needs to be a vertical gap between the hint message and the next field under it, so that it's clear which field the hint is referring to.
But what I would suggest instead: if the ORCID
<label>just has atitleattribute whose value was the hint message, then it would work as a standard HTML tooltip, which would be almost exactly the same as our JavaScript tooltip. Or you could even still include the (i) icon in the no-js version and just put atitleon it, even more similar.