I just started learning Common Lisp a few days ago, actually, and I agree that this isn't a good way to present this project. I've never used Emacs (I'm been using vi for 13 years now), and regarding Lisp machines, I'm very curious about them but in 2017 I have the slightest idea where I could try one out; unlike Smalltalk where there are open-source Smalltalk VMs such as Squeak, there are no open-source Lisp OSes; plus, Lisp machines themselves are expensive collectors items. (I wish there were some type of computer lab available where one could try out old machines that had a tremendous impact on computing history such as the Xerox Alto and Symbolics Lisp machines running Genera, but I digress.) It would be nice if the IP issues regarding Symbolics Genera were resolved and if the IP owners open-sourced the OS; there are enough interesting and unique ideas in Genera for it to still have an impact on the computing landscape despite its age.