Unironically yes. Plenty of millennials I know learned how to program on their TI-83.

It's a reliable piece of equipment you can ask 2+2 and get 4 every time, unlike the modern LLM that will give you a story about why it's actually five.

buttons ? knobs ? we are fascinated by machines. It's curiosity about the inner workings of the machine and fascination by the mistery of the closed box. you can observe that in certain kids

I wouldn't say it's a fascination, but a pocket calculator next to my computer is still quicker and easier for me than pulling up a calculator app. Also, it's preferable in the lab, machine shop, or my basement workshop.

I confess that I use a cheap solar Casio scientific for this purpose, not RPN. That dates back to when my RPN calculator was destroyed in the lab by accident, and I replaced it with something cheaper.

It's not about the calculator. I don't even know how to use one beyond basics. Similiar like luxury watches. I can't even read the time. It's about the craftsmanship .