> Do you count the number of lines or characters before you move?
I think most people use commands like f) (move to to the next ')' on the current line) more often than something like 12k (move twelve chars to the right), because, like you say, counting chars is slower than mashing 'k'.
People just use 12k because it's a simple example of how vim commands can be chained together. As a less-contrived example, you can do 2f) to move to the second ')' on the current line.
I think most people use commands like f) (move to to the next ')' on the current line) more often than something like 12k (move twelve chars to the right), because, like you say, counting chars is slower than mashing 'k'.
People just use 12k because it's a simple example of how vim commands can be chained together. As a less-contrived example, you can do 2f) to move to the second ')' on the current line.