Earlier quoted context omitted.
> Interfaces designed for experts tend not to hide important information and high performance features. That you want "not to hide important information and high performance features" does not imply the interface has to be poorly designed. A well designed interface can accomplish both. Most interfaces "designed for experts" are poorly designed crap --and make the work of the "experts" needlessly hard. That some swear…
When you're flying an F16, you don't want "drop flares" and "launch sidewinders" on two different menus and the radar on a third, so the interface isn't designed with grandma in mind. That's the difference between the interface for the Windows utility and the one for the Mac...the Windows utility allows you to drop flares and launch sidewinders at the same time. The Mac interface uses modes for crying out loud.
You'll find out that a well designed F16 interface also uses modes. You don't want to "launch missiles" and "adjust height" in the same menu.
Oh, and the "expert interface" par excellence, Vim, also uses modes..