Linux distributions have different philosphies how this combinations should look like.

Some install all competing applications of the same type in order to let the user choose which of them suites their needs best.

Some install a subset but still more than one application per type, e.g. Firefox and Konqueror

Some install just a single application per type.

Distributions have this differences because the either have or aim at different target groups. If a user does find a distributions choice overwhelming or too limiting, they are either not in the distributions target group, or have failed to communicate their problem with their vendor.

All of the listed packaging policies are OK and every user will likely prefer one more than the others.

Personally I like to do minium installations and then specifically install needed applications, so I chose a distribution that allows me to do that.

Thats because they don’t know how to handle dependencies later, because this is a completely different task on each distribution.

The remaining 10% is people like you and me that sort of know what they are doing.

But, talking about myself, I use to make full installations too, because storage is cheap today, and I may not have the CDs available later.

Actually no. You get this if you install all available KDE related software packages, but I’d hardly call this “vanilla”

The only two programs listed above that are most likely installed in parallel are Kate and KWrite, since they are actually like two interfaces to the same program, one as a simple editor and one as a multi document editor.

However, there is always the possibility that a distributor has a different packaging and package combination policy and you might end up with weird “duplications” without having been asked.