[blt]

I think the tool obsession blossoms with repetitive jobs. If you perform essentially the same programming task over and over, you focus on finding the most efficient way to do it. If your tasks are less repetitive, you probably spend more time thinking than writing code, so you are not as concerned with tool efficiency.

Car mechanics debate who makes the best 3/8" flex-head ratchet. Engine designers don't. [citation needed]

Still, the flex-head ratchet was probably invented by someone who got frustrated trying to turn a tricky bolt with a fixed-head ratchet. Discussing the benefits/limitations of current tools is worthwhile.

However, when it comes to text editors, I see a lot more "X editor is amazing, here's why" than I see "all editors are insufficient, here's how we should make them better."

[edgarvaldes]

I am not sure about "the tool obsession blossoms with repetitive jobs". Maybe my counter-example is very specific, but I think about painters (even on digital mediums) and the obsession about their tools.