Let this be a lesson in what free software is about.
It's not about the low price. It's not because the people who make closed-source software aren't talented, or generous, or that their software isn't worth the money.
It's that closed-source software is under the exclusive control of one person or one corporation. You are at the mercy of the whims, incentives, and fortunes of a tiny group of people. And the odds that their desires will remain aligned with yours are poor indeed.
And it's not as if this is an iPhone Twitter app, where you can switch from one to another in a few minutes. Or even Mac OS X, which is Unix -- though I love my Mac OS toolset, I reserve the ability and the right to install Ubuntu and come back up to speed in a few days. No, this is your text editor. It can take weeks or months to thoroughly learn a new one, and it's the centerpiece of your professional life.
Really, I agree with everything you're saying. But sometimes paid apps just feel better, and I'm really hoping that all will be forgiven once TM2 blows our minds.
It's not about the low price. It's not because the people who make closed-source software aren't talented, or generous, or that their software isn't worth the money.
It's that closed-source software is under the exclusive control of one person or one corporation. You are at the mercy of the whims, incentives, and fortunes of a tiny group of people. And the odds that their desires will remain aligned with yours are poor indeed.
And it's not as if this is an iPhone Twitter app, where you can switch from one to another in a few minutes. Or even Mac OS X, which is Unix -- though I love my Mac OS toolset, I reserve the ability and the right to install Ubuntu and come back up to speed in a few days. No, this is your text editor. It can take weeks or months to thoroughly learn a new one, and it's the centerpiece of your professional life.