[sgoranson]

I'm so close to getting vim to be my ideal editor...7.0 for tab support, and ctags opens tags in a new tab, not a new buffer.

But I can't figure out how to search currently open tabs instead of opening a new tab no matter what; I end up with duplicate tabs very easily. So his 3rd major "what I want" point really rings true.

[graywh]

Your problem is trying to use the tabbar as a replacement for :ls/:files/:buffers. Stop, and learn what tabpages really are--work spaces, or view ports.

[erlanger]

I agree. Now that I know how to use buffers, splits and the jumplist, I don't often open buffers in new tabs.