As much as I think the other replies to this question hit the nail on the head, I think there’s more to it than just tool obsession.

Software developers are in the fairly unique position where most of our tools are software defined. We are experts in the discipline required to improve our own day to day work lives.

How many other professions have this liberty? Woodworking does to an extent, carpenters regularly make their own jigs and clamps but rarely venture into the realm of sharpened tools.

Contrast this with anyone working in the medical or retail(?) industries. People working in these fields are close to powerless to improve the tools they use every day.

Embrace the tool improvement life, there’s still a long way to go before software tooling is “finished”