When the cursor is in the middle of a word you wish to delete
diw has a distinct advantage over bdw
But what is it?
I think it's the mental model.
"diw" is two mental steps: {action}{object} where {action} is
"d"elete and {object} is "iw" even though that {object} is two
characters.
"bdw", OTOH, has a 3-step mental model of
{prepare}{action}{motion} where you {prepare} with "b", {action}
with "d" over {motion} with "w".
When vimming, you begin to think in the flow "okay...I want to
delete something [hit 'd'] and it's this thing [provide
object/motion]". The latter intrudes on this by requiring you to
not start your deletion action until you've prepared for it.
Or maybe that's just the warped way my own mind works :)
-tim
