> I never understood why Mac folks were obsessed with keyboard shortcuts, but now I know.

No. Most Mac users are obsessed with keyboard shortcuts because they're faster and more efficient. This is true whether a mouse experience was super optimized or not. If you're typing moving to a mouse takes a lot more time than using a keyboard shortcut. Similarly being a left-hand shortcut wizard is highly effective when combined with a mouse as well.

Lets not use stupid hyperbole here.

I think 99% of Mac users could plug a mouse in out of the box and use it just fine on a Mac. Those that need the extra support can just as easily install one of the many 3rd party utilities that better handle mice support than the manufacturer.

I disagree here. I use keyboard shortcuts on both platforms, but I can be fast either way on Linux, while on Mac I just can't get used to the acceleration curves and other odd behaviors that simply don't happen on the other platforms with the same mice.

I tried Microsoft, Logitec, and SteelSeries, which is about as great a variety of mice as can be expected.

I know I tend to be in the minority on HN in my dislike of macOS, but I'm trying here.

Conversely, I really really like the magic keyboard, and having an extra accelerator button is pretty nice (that isn't the stupid MS button).

The fact that mouse acceleration curves are such a common irritant is a bit mystifying to me. I jump between macOS and Windows frequently and occasionally dabble with Linux, and any differences in "cursor feel" disappear within ~30s of usage, after which I can't tell that there's differences in the curve at all unless I'm specifically looking for it.

Ditto, it's something I rarely notice and that never bothers me. I game on Windows, use Linux desktops occasionally, and work on macOS mostly. Former mainly-Linux user, too. Whatever the defaults are for Mac cursors don't bother me a bit. In fact the only system customization I really do with a new Mac is to install Spectacle, and then use its defaults without configuring it further. That's about it. Oh, and set caps lock to an extra ctrl, which you can do through the normal Mac settings panel with a few clicks. Otherwise, I don't even know what I'd want to customize, behavior-wise.

Have you tried using tools like Steermouse? It has been awhile since I've used it but as I recall it allows controlling a lot more of the mouse behavior than the system does in System Preferences.

I have used a few tools, but most of the ones that worked for me in the past died in the last few major versions of OSX. I don't believe Steermouse was one of them, though.

Exactly, I don't care if the mouse is "tuned", I just care that the cursor moves at a reasonable tracking speed.

That said, I'm full time trackpad, even on desktop, so mouse stuff is rarely an issue for me. I'm only using a mouse in specific scenarios.