If all you have is a terminal connection to a system, a gui editor isn't going to do you much good. Personally, I prefer to use vi, but any console editor that you know works as far as I'm concerned. Also, if a 45 year old program works, why not use it? Newer /= better in all cases.
“If all you have is a terminal connection to a system, a gui editor isn’t going to do you much good.”
Actually, it can. Think s l o w l y about this. If you are connected, your computer can do what it wants including presenting a file in a GUI.