JavaScript's success is particularly freak-ish. In the early days of research into prototype-based languages, I don't think anyone imagined that a language with a model so obscure and research-y would become the ubiquitous programming language in the world.
I like how you put that. Explodingly popular languages owe their success to tandem platforms. It makes much more sense than other explanations.
I'd actually argue that Javascript's object model, given its current usages, is close to ideal - but not perfect. It would be better if the language provided a set of kernel functionalities for you to build whatever higher object model you might need. I have in mind something akin to this: http://www.vpri.org/pdf/tr2006003a_objmod.pdf
Foe example, ES6 is supposed to bring us some meta-stuff, but that wouldn't be necessary if the core model were more general.
I like how you put that. Explodingly popular languages owe their success to tandem platforms. It makes much more sense than other explanations.