Not to mention that many remote server environments may not even have X installed, or graphics cards, for that matter. I started using vi for much the same reas

Not to mention that many remote server environments may not even have X installed, or graphics cards, for that matter. I started using vi for much the same reason you did, having to troubleshoot via ssh (and telnet before that) in many variants of UNIX (tm) systems. When I got hold of Vim it was like Christmas for me. I started learning emacs some time back, but the learning curve (and fighting against Vim muscle memory) vs. needing to get work done for money soon convinced me to try again another day.