Yes, a good chunk do. (You haven't lived till you heard a contractor wax for 30 minutes about why he prefers what hammer for what task ;)

Of course, by far not all. But the thing that truly differentiates computing from most other jobs isn't that people are indifferent to their tools and want work to end when they're home. That's the common case.

What's different is that software engineering seems to be the only job where its practitioners actively resent the tools of their trade, because those tools inevitably bleed from their work life into their private life.

I mean… yeah? Some trade workers I know genuinely do like their job, but they are in the same place in this story that the author is. They like their job, and are even moderately interested in the details of their job, but they get home at the end of the day and don’t want to start laying tile or framing a wall.

Computers might be a tool for you but pure entertainment for others and that’s perfectly fine.

My father had the same framing hammer for about 30 years. He refused to give up that hammer. When he helped my brother and I redo our house we bought, he was prepared to hammer the whole floor down with just his hammer. We convinced him to use a nail gun instead, just to prevent another bout of carpal tunnel syndrome. However, he was attached to that thing, out of all his tools, it was the one I precisely remember, particularly when I had to help him growing up.

I haven't had the same computer for 30 years, but I am attached to what I have as it continues to do exactly I want in terms of its ergonomics. :)

Actually yes, in terms of tools there are always those who care about quality and convenience, and those who don't. There exist premium framing hammers. The margin of difference is low. But if it's the difference between an injury and not, the price is irrelevant in most cases.

Most people enjoying their profession also enjoy their tools, often times simply because of said tools.

I might think that of a builder if he said he used to play with hammers as a kid and well into his adult life for fun and because he believed in hammers.

Today they are tools but that is not what they used to be. In late 80 for about a decade later on they used to bring excitement and fun and surprise with a bit of frustration. Today they are just boring tools.

Perhaps using them, but outside of work, yeah -- good point.

Unless you get the dude who's /reaaaaaallllyyyyy/ into hammers... Yeah - Paul, he's a bit odd, but we love him.

Hammers don’t (yet?) come with a little screen to show ads and a buzzer to beep at you every few hours because you haven’t “engaged” with it enough.

I can't speak for others, but generally I like my tools, computers or hammers.