I have started using ajax/jQuery in our websites / application. There are many plugins that support degrading the javascript to browsers that dont have javascript enabled an
Big applications like Gmail often have 'basic html' versions to support old and secured browsers. If you code your ajax with this in mind, you might be able to reuse most of the code.
Medium sized applications, especially if the user uses them regular, will probably not find it worthwhile to support the few percentages.
Small sites / sites that mostly uses basic html navigation, should try to do without javascript. Most of the time, modern css tricks will do better, faster and make more sense codewise.