I also use Consolas, but from time to time I have to read code on another machine or some environment without Consolas or rendering problems, and the things is: if the other font is good at first it's a bit hard, but after a couple of minutes I don't feel like it's a problem reading it. Then going back to Consolas I have almost the same experience. So my anecdotal, personal idea about this is: as long as the font doesn't suck, it just doesn't matter. Same with books: I read everyday, different fonts, not once did I think 'wow this font should be banished, it hurts my eyes' or 'wow every book should use this font'. Of course on a subconcious level there might be fonts which measurably perform better (i.e. need less cognitive processing by the brain) so: show me the evidence before claiming your font is much better than mine :)
Yup. These days a shocking number of people never test on Windows or a 1080p monitor.
Windows is my primary dev environment. I don’t think many people are even trying to look good there. So I’m not sure Consolas will ever be dethroned. Not for me at least.
I have tried many programming fonts. I love articles like this that expose to me to new, fun things to try. But alas Consolas is King.