Nothing really changed about Linux kernel that would require columns to be wider. The only things that changed are developers and their developer setups. We go

Nothing really changed about Linux kernel that would require columns to be wider. The only things that changed are developers and their developer setups. We got better, wider monitors and we got used to using longer variable and function names. 80 characters is an arbitrary constraints that requires me as a developer to think how I am structuring my code. It also makes it easier for me to read the code as 60 characters is about perfect column width for readability.