Which tool would you pick...

Recently I got a comment "Stop using the $500+ tools none of us have. Use Eclipse or NetBeans"

It's true that the tool is about $500 and it's also true that I paid for it out of my own pocket.
I'm not going into the details of the tool here, but if you've seen me present or code, you've
got a good idea what it is ;)

However, it's not true that none of us has it. A number of people who I personally know have chosen to
use that tool. I personally picked that tool clearly knowing that I have choice and free-of-charge alternatives.

I feel that I have the responsibility to pick and use the tool that makes me the most productive. I won't and don't
prescriber to anyone what tool they must use. I think you must use what you feel the most comfortable and
productive with for the type of work you do.

For the type of problems you have, if you find that fill_name_of_your_tool_here makes you most productive, you
not only have the right, but the responsibility to select that one without regard to the opinions of anyone.

I often use and switch between a number of IDEs and other tools as I feel fit for the task on hand. If you ask me why
I like to use a particular tool, I will be glad to give specific reasons as to why I have consciously decided to use that tool.

This is also true as far as languages, frameworks, and even operating systems.

During the panel discussion yesterday at the Minneapolis NFJS show, one of the questions that came up was "How many of
you use Eclipse?" Almost everyone in the audience of about 250 attendees raised their hand. I then asked "How many of
you would use it if you had to pay $500 for it." Sadly no one raised their hand.

Committing to use a tool that everyone around you says you must use, but you feel is not worth paying for is like
blindly entering into an arranged marriage...