>Its like saying, oh you like your power steering, and automatic transmissions? Well then you couldn't drive a Model-T.
No, I think it's more like saying "most of those efficiencies are probably cargo cult" especially since programmers with just a 12" laptop and Vim can (and do) run circles around people with double and triple monitor setups and fancy IDEs.
So nothing especially efficiency improving that wouldn't be trumped by simply more skills.
(Not saying that you don't have skills. You might be better than Linus. Saying that multiple monitors are not the reason for that).
Yes, it's nice to have a big screen, but not really essential. As for the second screen, it gets all marginal returns from there.
Its like saying, oh you like your power steering, and automatic transmissions? Well then you couldn't drive a Model-T.
That viewpoint that progress makes you weak is a very bad way to view the world. Progress makes us all better at what we do by making us more efficient.