I agree - my employer pays for IDEs and developer tools without question, and the main benefit goes to them. Some of it comes back to me in promotions and bonuses, but not all or most of it.

Me paying for tools to increase my productivity at work might still make sense if it helps my pay increase, but it's even more worth it for the employer to do it.

Surely depends on how things work out. Even though ultimately my employer is who saves money (and they pay for my work license), I end up benefiting because I have to work less , I’m therefore less stressed to hit deadlines and I’m seen as higher performing.