1. That should be on by default.
2. It has no features that Xed doesn't have that I use and takes up more system resources (it's noticeably slower).
3. It's far more confusing in its design with the project-pane thing which keeps constantly closing between reboots, and it has no recent-files menu section, which I rely on a lot (and if there is a plugin for this, I shouldn't need a plugin for such a common feature).

I've made my decision for the time being. I am aware of Zed and can always change in the future should the need arise, but Kate frankly looked better, anyway.