I don't understand what the problem is with the windows!=applications paradigm, I GREATLY prefer it.
I do wish it were possible to set up a macOS-flavored version of focus follows mouse, though. It would have to be adapted to the windowing paradigm, but I have some notes on how it could work. I don't expect Apple will ever add it and it would require deep hooks into many parts of the OS to offer it as an extension, so that's that. There's no perfect software, the only question is what you can live with out of the available options.
On Windows/Linux closing an app requires doing the obvious thing. Press the big X, you’re done. You’re back to the previous app instantly.
On Mac after closing a window what you see on the screen is a lie (besides the ever subtle menu bar and shades of gray); you’re still in the visually-hidden app.
The last one, obviously.
> Why shouldn't I be able to run a program without any windows open?
Because 99% of the time window IS a program. If a program has no windows, it is a process.
Calendars, emails, chats that need to run headless in the background live naturally on the top menu bar.
And please spare us from "I want it to open fast". This should not be a user concern, the system should be smart enough to cache frequently used apps.
I mean…isn’t it sort of doing that by allowing a windowless app instance?