[sjs]

There are operations where the mouse is more efficient than the keyboard and vice versa. Anyone who says otherwise is selling something.

That said, I often trade the time + context switch of moving to the mouse for a slightly less-efficient keyboard command. Overall it's probably a toss-up, I just like to stay near the home row.

My friend at work uses the mouse a lot and he's very good at using it to edit text.

[strait]

Agreed. IDE with extensive keyboard shortcuts + using the mouse occasionally for the odd-length text jump/highlight VS emacs baroque command structure is probably about the same for those who have mastered each. Years of surfing the web have most people very adept and quick with a mouse.