> > vector-based UI just doesn't look that good on those

> Counterargument: Fonts are vectors, and with sub-pixel hinting they can look pretty good on low-DPI monitors

Ah, but I feel safe in saying, no one puts hints in nor uses hinting in the rendering of anything to do with folders and the like in a GUI.

The fact that autohinting exists doesn't mean that is easy to do.

Agreed that it’s a safe thing to say, but there’s nothing stopping an OS from putting in the work to do that, and therefore allow them to have a single vector-based UI for Low and Hi DPI screens.

Right, but e.g. SVG doesn’t support hinting AFAIK. Also, realistically nobody is willing to do the work to add hinting to vector icons. Fonts with good low-res hinting have already gotten rare.

I suspect that we’ll continue to live in a world where the UI is neither optimal for HiDPI nor (any more) for low DPI, while really high DPI (e.g. over 200 DPI on desktop monitors), which would enable going full vector without detriment, will rather remain the exception than becoming the rule.