Not hurting users should be standard, not aaa

[MarjaE2]

I'm going to use the old criterion 2.3.3 as an example.

https://www.w3.org/WAI/WCAG21/Understanding/animation-from-interactions.html#dfn-motion-animation

Many sites inflict their own smooth scrolling, regardless of prefers-reduced-motion, and regardless of browser settings to disable smooth scrolling, disable animation, disable autoplay, etc.

And the old criterion is

1. only applicable at aaa-- not hurting users should apply regardless, even if higher standards apply at aaa.
2. allows "essential" smooth animation. Although there are cases where it's genuinely essential, I worry that this will be interpreted to mean any essential move or transition can be made into a smooth one.
3. allows any smooth animation, as long as there's some way to disable it, but doesn't require discoverability of site-specific means, or adherence to prefers-reduced-motion.

I think criteria about avoiding harm, such as "Harm from Motion," and "Prevent Harm," should have basic standards at lower levels, even if they have stricter standards at aaa.

[MarjaE2]

A related point is that many sites, including github, use javascript for animations, including the sticky headers here. So it's even harder for users to protect ourselves from these elements.