This is an excellent post and it needs way more attention!

I see this exact problem all the time. People get stuck in one way of doing things (often unhappily), unaware of the many different ways you can design a productivity system. Most apps limit the possibilities way too much and lock people into a specific type of system. The user is rarely aware that this is even happening as there are a few systems that are adopted by practically all the major players with a few variations here and there. People who struggle often either see the flaw in themselves (I am just too lazy/disorganized) or in the app they are using and then go on the hunt for a new app, which often leads them to implement the same flawed system again. App switching is sometimes necessary, but there is a big time cost to exporting/importing your time demands and getting used to a new interface, let alone all the research most people do before switching.

My goal is to get Amazing Marvin (productivity app I built) to a state where it allows people to upgrade/downgrade in levels and try out different things all within one app. Another important part of the app is also to make it “smart” so it can guide the user and figure out what is causing issues for the user. It’s not easy and there is a lot of work ahead of us, but it’s a worthwhile goal. :)