I started using Emacs org mode to help me make sense of a manuscript after struggling with Obsidian for some time. Emacs + writeroom mode has the feeling of a console typewriter. I hit a keybinding and poof, distractions are gone.

I used Emacs Writing Studio as a starting point and vibe-coded some of the Lisp with Claude.

You don’t have to go full-on one or the other. I still use both. Use .md files if you want Obsidian compatibility.

Emacs is the most open software you will see. I'd say it has good community, extension (packages) and legacy of staying maintained. You can craft emacs as you want, more than an editor. You can interface with various tools. Heck the main USP you would realize is the god-tier documentation on everything and discovering tiny features.

Since you mentioned only note-taking, I'd say in that area, emacs excels. But note that note-taking system is not everything, emacs will allow you to craft and build workflow as you require.

> Where do they shine compared to Obsidian?

emacs is: Editor + Note taking + Code editor + Integrate with tools ++ Extend more

> Where are they worse?

You might feel like packages or community is not that fast paced compared to other popular, trendy tools.

Emacs is a investment and journey, its not so I know emacs, its like I grow with emacs. You need lot of time to learn and understand to grasp it.

You can try two routes, 1. Replicate same workflow as obsidian in emacs, or 2. use emacs from scratch (minimal config) and understand the essence of it to build your own workflow.