The saying makes sense if you get the axes right (it's not "time" over "stuff learned").

X is "things you're able to do" and Y is "what you need to learn". In other words, a tool with a steep learning curve requires a lot of learning in order to do basic things.

wish i had mod points, because that's funny.

i must be the only dork who still performs a manual spell-check. *agreed on symbolism/communication factor. *& from original: "I have all sorts of high concepts about what this should represent and I keep coming back to the thought 'nothing which is useless can be truly beautiful'." ...but what does /she/ want?