a.) Why is it not on by default?
b.) I want to type in a full path in one go, not click on individual segments of one - maybe that's not really common but I tend to memorize my FS structure.
> There's a shortcut, cmd-shift-G, listed on that menu item.
Am aware of the shortcut, it's not quite the same, it's an extra step you have to do vs not having to do, but it's probably just a "getting used to thing".
> You can tile two finder windows side-by-side.
That's like saying in a browser without tabs you can just open another window. Sure you can, it takes another second or two to get it the same size, probably won't open in the same directory as the old one, the other one will loose focus as you interact with the other etc.
> Tab support is seven years old.
Fair. Linux had it for 2 decades, I still remember the WWDC keynote where they announced it, which is probably why in my mind it was more recent.
A new Finder window opens to the Documents folder by default, though this is configurable in preferences. You can set it to your home directory
> Finder seems to like to show you what seem like various 'views' of things but these views aren't actual folders or at lest usually don't contain what you would think the folder would
I've... never seen this. Are you talking about tags maybe? Or having an active search?
> (once you even figure out where you are if you have any amount of complexity to your FS hierarchy)
If you right click the folder name in title bar you get a list of path segments. You can also turn on 'Show Path Bar' and get a breadcrumb-style control.
> it has to be done via a nested menu item, (Go=>Go to folder)
There's a shortcut, cmd-shift-G, listed on that menu item.
> The search doesn't seem to work much of the time
Haven't had a problem with it, though I usually use find and grep on the command line.
> no dual pane support
You can tile two finder windows side-by-side.
> tab support is very, very recent.
Tab support is seven years old.
> (it didn't even have copy paste last time I bothered to check).
It does. It doesn't have cut and paste though, but drag and drop works to move.