I think you are mistaking 'lists' and 'todo lists.' OP is talking about 'todo lists' specifically--the kinds of lists you make for big things you need to accomp

I think you are mistaking 'lists' and 'todo lists.' OP is talking about 'todo lists' specifically--the kinds of lists you make for big things you need to accomplish. A todo list is a list of tasks you are intending to accomplish: Check my email, fix three bugs, eat lunch, call that sales guy, write copy for the ad, go to store. A normal list is just that, a list. Here is a list of lists: groceries, bugs, ideas, commenters on hacker news.