I'm not convinced it has anything to do with who is using the language. If the best framework happens to be written in some language in some way, well I guess that is what I will use...

For me, Carmack is one of those people I will watch and maybe follow just on reputation alone.

That is a matter of taste, as our LAN parties would prove.

It's not like he's probably indirectly responsible for all the games you feel are worth playing.

You must be pretty young.

doom had a bigger installed base than windows 95. you sir are gravely wrong.

My experience back when I was trying to get into games a few decades ago was that some devs only change tools if the platform owners shove them into their throat without any other option, or get proven wrong by having one of their idols going alternative.

How would you know it's the "best", though?