As someone who's written a lot of DOM code, i've tried dropping jquery (and do) but selectively. You cannot drop it completely without great pain.
It's true that the DOM interface has stabilised and is now mostly consistent cross browser, however the API is massively unwieldy in places, from excessively long method names to irritating asymmetric potholes.
TLDR; Jquery is not needed for cross browser now, it's needed to make using the DOM API not so ridiculously verbose and long winded. You need to use jQuery today because: you want your DOM code to be 1/5th the size, more legible, more debug-able.
I still use native methods where possible where there is little difference, especially when performance is a concern.
It's true that the DOM interface has stabilised and is now mostly consistent cross browser, however the API is massively unwieldy in places, from excessively long method names to irritating asymmetric potholes.
TLDR; Jquery is not needed for cross browser now, it's needed to make using the DOM API not so ridiculously verbose and long winded. You need to use jQuery today because: you want your DOM code to be 1/5th the size, more legible, more debug-able.
I still use native methods where possible where there is little difference, especially when performance is a concern.