Open the kinds of files you actually edit in Kate: a large log, a code project, a configuration file, and a document with non-ASCII text. Test search and replace, indentation, syntax support, project navigation, and the terminal or plugins you rely on.
For shared workflows, check that formatters and language tools produce the same result as your existing setup. Keep a sample change under version control so you can inspect the diff. A lightweight editor is a gain when it remains predictable on the files you touch every day.
Akousa