from a design perspective, consistency is key. light mode is on? then light mode means light mode, and apps should be in light mode.

do you want both your terminal to be dark theme and your gtk apps (including all of the gnome UI) to be light theme at the same time?

do you want settings within every single app in order to change from light mode to dark mode, as opposed to a global toggle that applies to every UI on your computer?

alternatively, is the terminal the only exception to this global toggle, and this design inconsistency by having the default contradict the default of the rest of your desktop environment is your preference?

Are there any sickos that use black text on white?

IIRC that’s the default on macOS if the theme is in light mode instead of dark mode. So probably.

I change mine to white text on blue background a la Commodore 64.

Guess it depends on the theme. MacOS had it since OSX. FVWM back in the day. Just changes from time to time. If I'm in a bright ass room, sometimes it can be more comfortable.

Are there any sickos that use black text on white?

Hi.

I think the other way around: I read black letters on white paper when I read a book; why shouldn't it be the same on a screen? I find the black background more fatiguing for the eyes.

It makes sense to use the same setting for this, at least by default, as for dark and light mode in general. Why would you want your terminal dark but your email client bright?

I... like it 👀

I never noticed that the gnome terminal uses light mode by default. Bit everytime i had to use gnome the first thing i do is turn on dark mode in the settings, so maybe that's why.

Transparent is superior, fight me.

You're wrong.

If you are unable to change the default setting, you have no business opening a terminal.