While org mode can do almost anything, it is foremost an outliner, not a markup language like markdown. Using org-mode in place of Markdown is like using MS Word for coding, so no wonder

I think you are right. My real issue is that I don't have an "outliner" brain. I've never really understood why people make outlines or even, really, take notes.

Org's utility to me is then the making and keeping track of todos. But markdown can do that without much trouble.

Much better to use completion/expansion facilities than to learn a non-standard layout. Trying to use any device when you're used to Dvorak is such indescribable suffering.

Rather than experiencing that in exchange for a tiny amount of saved effort, stick with QWERTY and press TAB/etc to skip most of the typing.

Are they typing or dictating? Voice is an underrated input method

I'm partial to the undo implementation in emacs https://www.felesatra.moe/blog/2019/08/04/emacs-undo

I find the time machine model to be superior in practice

I'd be careful with that. He sounds like he'd be the dog that bites the hands and sue your for stealing company code

The problem is there's "mess" and then there's mess, and it's nontrivial to distinguish the two.

Ultimately, it comes down to: can you find something you're looking for? For most people, this will require some amount of organization as they will not be able to remember the location of every individual thing, but what this organization looks like may seem inscrutable to someone else.

I think you underestimate how many programs use log and flag, if you just focus on the few (bloated) popular projects.

Speeding without a seatbelt is two separate infractions so it should be double bad. Just like robbing a bank and shooting someone is double bad compared to either individually.

And intentional killing is generally considered worse because it means you thought about it and then did it, vs when it's due to acute emotional disorder. Intentional crimes are usually treated more harshly

I'm not talking about two crimes together... I'm talking specifically about changing the punishment based on intent or secondary effects.

Owning a gun is legal, but if you've ever smoked weed it's illegal for you... murder is bad, but if it's because you hate a protected group it's a much harsher punishment... in some places, you can't be pulled over for not wearing a seatbelt, but you can be charged with it if you're pulled over for anything else. It's just to attach additional charges for prosecution.

I don't like the idea of excessive charges as part of the prosecution process in general. It creates/extends what I consider an unfair asymmetry between the state (prosecution) and the individual. That's not to say there aren't similar examples in the other direction, such as a clerical error resulting in dismissed charges altogether.

I feel like there is important context missing here. I don't think not paying insurance is a felony (if it is, I think it should be changed)

No, but the felony involved damage to property and so there was a civil penalty involved and where I live my criminal status is linked to whether or not I've paid that off. They did restore my voting rights after my parole was up, though, and I don't care to own a gun, so I've made peace with the situation.

I was trying to get ahead of the debt for awhile but I realized that's a sucker's game and now I just pay the minimum that keeps them from confiscating parts of my paycheck or other assets.