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Bruce used the IDE argument in the wrong direction with: Python IDEs:

I often get questions, mostly from Java programmers, about IDEs for Python. In Java there's so much finger-typing that the language wouldn't be feasible without an auto-completion IDE, so it makes sense that a Java programmer would want one when using Python. And they exist, but I don't know many who use them.

I didn't think that IDEs were there to just save a few keystrokes :)

Even Obie Fernandez the ThoughtWorker who loves Rails (well, one of them :) admits that IntelliJ IDEA is a different level to Textmate.

I use Textmate for my Ruby work and it is nice, but it isn't close to IDEA wrt refactoring and such.

If you just look at the code editor side:

When I code in IntelliJ I can code in a different way. Type a couple of letters, hit one of the ctrl-space combinations, couple of letters, .... and when I am done I know its going to compile just fine. If I get a squigly I take care of it right there with an Alt-Enter. And then there are live templates (a feature that Textmate and company can pull off).

That is enough for me. And then you add on refactoring support etc, and it gets better and better.

A lot of people cringe at the term "IDE" as they think it is all about Wizards and generating code for you.

When I hear this kind of stuff from people of Bruce's caliber, I wonder how much code they write anymore.