The OPs arguments on reducing distractions really has nothing to do with using multiple monitors. I can regularly use multiple screens to perform single tasks:

The OPs arguments on reducing distractions really has nothing to do with using multiple monitors. I can regularly use multiple screens to perform single tasks: Three screens: one web-browser with the product running, one with browser dev tools open, one with ide/text editor. No distractions, pure coding/debugging. Or having remote desktops/shells open with tail/ for troubleshooting something in production....or if you're writing/researching etc... Anyway, the point is there's plenty of single focus tasks that can utilize a multiple monitor desktop for productivity. Of course, these days with the high-res monitors, you don't really need three anymore, when you can snap two 1200px wide windows next to each other on a single monitor.