[angusgr]

Is using the arrow keys really that bad? I understand that it moves you off the home row, but is _that_ really so bad? Should I be doing this?

If you're being serious, it kinda seems like just punishing new users for no good reason. If you want that kind of self-flagellation, use vim (kidding! kidding!!)

(FWIW I use arrow keys, but also other smart navigation combinations, a lot. I consider myself a reasonable user of emacs but no pro - I have bells and whistles turned off, fairly hefty .emacs/.emacs.d file, much of which I wrote (or tweaked, to be honest) myself for specific cases, etc. but I know I only use <1% of what is out there. I try and make myself learn a new feature reasonably regularly, though.)

[pdelgallego]

Dont understand me wrong, I use Arrow Keys, plus S-j S-k S-l S-i as custom "smart navigation".

I think the extra pain, that you cause when you remove the arrow keys is worth because force a new user to be conscious all the time that he is not anymore in his old editor.

E.g For me the arrow keys were a good enough option to align things by hand, but after removing the them, I learned to use align-regex and rectangular editing.

[angusgr]

Thanks. I've never used either align-regex or rectangular editing, so you've inspired me to give them a go!