This is precisely the reason I started using linux over windows - the "standard" tools available on almost every machine I would come across impressed me with their power and ease of use. Of course, while not all, most of these are from the gnu toolset - hence the occasional requests for gnu to be included in the default moniker.

Because I infrequently use windows, it makes the presence of notepad, paint, and calc even more important. They are the tools I reach for first to accomplish simple tasks on Windows. Happy to hear Paint is staying.