I was a vim minimalist for a short while for the same reasons. They make sense in theory. In practise, all you really need to remember for regular vi(m) is :e.

I was a vim minimalist for a short while for the same reasons. They make sense in theory. In practise, all you really need to remember for regular vi(m) is :e. All the rest of the motions and commands you'll be using anyway. The amount of productivity gained from a customized vim config > the amount of productivity gained from remembering a couple of commands in case you need to edit on another box. And that's how learned to stop worrying and love the bomb.