[ObieJazz]

Unlike most light bulbs, a monitor has a brightness setting that can be set to a comfortable level.

Also the metaphor of ink on paper is still with us in a big way. Dark text on a light background is the norm, light on dark is the exception.

[jacoblyles]

On the other hand, many people have their terminals and editors in a light on dark scheme because they got used to it from the legacy days when they had no choice. However, I agree that most people probably aren't used to it.