I have a complete lack of understanding of the preference for a single-window interface other than to make GIMP look like Photoshop. I can't stand the single-window interface. Inkscape has been nothing but pain for me to try to use (and I can hand-write SVG just fine, so it isn't a lack of understanding of the format), so I must be on a different wavelength than many.
edit:
> God help you if you close the layers window and don't know how to bring it back.
edit:
> God help you if you close the layers window and don't know how to bring it back.
This is true and awful.