To an extent you're right. I've used vim for 20 years, and in the first say 5 years I would spend a lot of time tweaking configs, learning new commands etc. I d

To an extent you're right. I've used vim for 20 years, and in the first say 5 years I would spend a lot of time tweaking configs, learning new commands etc. I don't think I will ever make back the time I spend on that in saved editing time. However, the main benefit of vim isn't so much 'increased speed' (to me) but rather 'feels like a solid tools in my hands', or even better, 'feels like an extension of my mind'. No other editor gives me that - there are always these small micro-interruptions of 'reaching for mouse, aim at menu, miss, try again' or 'take hands off home row, now my elbow isn't in a comfortable position any more when I go back'. It's like using say a Hilti, blue Bosch or Makita cordless drill vs a no-name or even cheaper brand name one. You can drill holes or screw screws just as well, but the reduced vibrations and excess power and tighter fit of everything just make everything feel more effortless and make you spend less time on being annoyed at the tools, even if they're all just 'micro-annoyances' that don't add up to any measurable time wasted. The more expensive ones (in Vim's case, expensive in learning time) are still worth it.