Because it's the pattern far more Unix tools use. Command name, then flags, then a file/set of files. I felt exactly the opposite way when I used Debian (not f

Because it's the pattern far more Unix tools use. Command name, then flags, then a file/set of files. I felt exactly the opposite way when I used Debian (not for any justifiable reason other than "that's not the way it's supposed to beeeee") because Debian does it in the way you describe. Theoretically, you could put on your hacker gloves and write a script that shifts the arguments for you. That might be a fun exercise!