Generally speaking, unless you're doing something weird (typeset IEC ladder!), proprietary (code completion for Aveva Quickscipt!), or right on the cutting edge

Generally speaking, unless you're doing something weird (typeset IEC ladder!), proprietary (code completion for Aveva Quickscipt!), or right on the cutting edge, someone has figured out a way of doing what you need in Emacs. You just have to identify the pain points first. That's harder than people think.