Minimalist point of view

I've taken a different path with application development than I have in the past. I am moving away from using frameworks like QT and just using the api or library I need directly in C++. I am using the STL where I can vs. depending on a framework. The only exception will be Boost, you can't live life without it :).

I noticed that I'm learning at a faster rate because I don't have sweet tools like qmake and I have to understand how to build my software. I have used ViM for a long period of time as my primary editor, which is continuing to remove my dependence on tools like intellisense and code completion (yeah I know about ctags, but I don't use it). Is it sad I keep trying to enter this post with ViM commands?

One draw back is productivity, but I think this is temporary. Just like a learning curve, I think this is a productivity curve.