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That stagnation / laziness is often disguised as preference doesn't mean that every sign of preference indicates stagnation.

Right, which is exactly why "The first symptom of stagnation is preference." is dumb. How do you tell the difference between "stagnation" and knowing the best tool for the job? What's that you say? It takes time and thinking beyond a pithy saying? Then why bother with the pithy saying?

Knowing the best tool for the job means that you pick different tools for different jobs. Having a (strong) preference means you pick the same tool if at all possible.

Well, the way I see it, the adage is right to recommend being suspicious of, and questioning fixated preferences. This attitude is healthy.

>Having a preference means that you know all available options well

With tools, languages and frameworks evolving so rapidly these days, it's impossible to know all of your options well.

Having static preferences that never change does indicate stagnation.

But the proverb in the form given is dumb.