There’s inefficient, and then there’s bloat. I’ve used some powerful statistical software that does just about everything you can imagine. It also, like Microsoft Word, does ten thousand things I have no interest in doing. Sometimes I just want software that does little things quickly and well.
I hear you. I was a statistical programmer way, way back when I was a COBOL programmer working on an IBM mainframe - you know, back when we drove our cars with our feet. :-)
I worked with actuarial analysts and learned to write tight little routines that digested seven quarters worth of data and output reports that they used to project future rates. Cool stuff. These programs input over 100 reels of tape.
In the JCL, you learned how to properly code CHECKPOINT RESTART, boy! As well as the COND parameter (if it’s TRUE, you’re THROUGH).