Then don't use the runtime and rewrite the code to plain js. All you have to do is declare cell contents as variables, and replace the first D3 select, that attaches to a reified dom node, with an #id selector. D3 is a series of tools, where the difficult parts are completely orthogonal to what observable provides.

It's like complaining that you can't learn how to drive in the evening, because there is a different sky color, than during the time you'll take your morning commute. The sky color is not the relevant nor difficult part.

I have my own (different) complaints about observable, but I'm sick and tired of bottom of the barrel programmers complaining about free stuff not being pre-digested enough for them.