Or just write function increasePoints() { ++($scope.points) }

Function errything!

I hope someone does a series on "forgetting AngularJS magic" when 2.0 comes out and changes everything...

The more it uses web standards (e.g. Object.observe), the less magic will be required (e.g. $watch), so I think you're right :)

The only reason Object.observe is a standard is because the angular guys pushed it through. It's generally agreed to be a wart of the new spec [0].

[0] https://twitter.com/floydophone/status/469214241732714497