The first example alone is reason enough to use jQuery - why would I want to use four statements instead one? Why would I want to have to remember to call `send`? Why do I have to remember the last boolean parameter of `open`?
Totally valid, but just to say, jQuery's API is just as arbitrary, you just happen to know it better. If you use the native XHR a couple times, you know what open's parameters are.
It is just as arbitrary, but I feel jQuery's API is also easier to grok at a glance. Using either a couple times may instill the parameters in your memory, but what about coming back to it after six months?
