Steve,
I am using the output_compression plugin. But tests I have run suggest that static content, like javascripts, do not get gzip compressed.
Is there a "clean" way to improve this situation, where "clean" means still doing things the rails way and not going off into my own custom optimizations? Or is this just the way it is?
You may like to look at the Unobtrusive Javascript (UJS) Plugin [1].
From the quickstart guide: "The main purpose of UJS is to help you
remove the JavaScript that normally litters your HTML pages and put it all away in a neat external JavaScript file that can be cached by the browser."
It also encourages one to create a working application without JavaScript, and then layer on the JavaScript to enrich the interface. So the app works well for anyone, such as your modem users, who may have JavaScript disabled.
Hope that helps, Andy Stewart