I've been a professional programmer for nearly four decades. But when I'm not programming, I just want the computer to do things for me. If I can solve a problem by clicking a mouse (or pushing a touch screen) rather than remembering syntax, I'm all for it.
I'm happy to have a crutch. I suppose I could limp along on my broken leg instead, but why would I?
Microsoft Word is not a crutched version of VIM.
No, but Notepad is.
Word is a word processor. Vim is a text editor. They're not the same thing, and they're not interchangeable.
I wonder if I would get used to using a single key for each app versus Alt-tabbing. I believe this is the main cause of my left wrist pain.
I use that kind of setup (kinda) in i3, it is great. It's not one app per key, but one keybind per virtual desktop but I have i3 set up that apps autostart and gets placed always on same desktop
So going to IDE is always caps+4 (I rebounded caps to act as modifier), mail client is caps+F2 etc.
Then few keybinds to move stuff around for those 2% of cases where I need apps on different desktops than usual.
Btw have you tried the trackball? When they introduced the modules I was vacillating between that and the trackpoint, but ended up with the trackball (of which I'm very happy), but I would be curious of alternative points of view.
That said...
> I often wonder if rotary encoders and sliders might be more intuitive than scroll bars and arrow keys for most uses.
I use a macro pad that includes a couple of rotary encoders along with the keys. I find them extremely useful, especially for scrolling. You should give one a try!