if your cursor is before the ()
on that line, you can try pressing:
%i
I think it would be the best way to go there. Of course you could do this as well:
f(a
to the question "how to get more productive"
- think about those operations, you thought "complex/not productive" (like the one in your question)
- try to find out a better solution by google/vim help/doc
- use the new solution in your daily edit
- if you cannot find better solution, ask here or other vim community, like vim-use mailing list.