My first approach to a *nix based system was in 2001, when i began my studies of Computing Engineering. It was using a telnet terminal in windows, and using some basics commands.
We started programming Pascal. And before i knew that i was using Linux, i was learning to use VI for 'pascaling'.... funny, dont?
Something like a year after, i installed mandrake in my home pc. And when i started programming for bash and C, i did what i knew to do:
vi helloworld.sh
And later
vi helloworld.c
And i never changed.. I haev used anjuta, kate, gedit, but there's no place in earth where i feel more comfortable than VI.
Now, i'm assisting a programming course for my faculty, and i teach C to the kids.... and they are all using VI, i guess because they know that if they use BloodsheedDevC++ they will reprobe the course!!!!