[GNC] Default to Plain English instead of Debit and Credit

[flywire]

GnuCash is presented as a double entry accounting system using debits and
credits, but it's not special, it just lacks a good explanation. The Guide
starts with a quick overview followed by The Basics describing Accounting
Concepts. The guide even warns that accounting debits and credits are used
contrary to the way most people understand them, and furthermore, GnuCash
can be configured to use deposit and withdrawal, yet new users must
understand the terms to use GnuCash.

Other financial software for non-accountants explains how it works in plain
English without confusing accounting concepts. GnuCash can work like that
too, but it's not the default and the formal terms need to be understood to
interpret the documentation. Let's heed the warning and remove the debits
and credits terms from the default software and documentation. It would be
easy enough or those familiar with the formal terms to change the settings
and they would still understand documentation written in simple terms.

In my view, the concept of a transaction also needs to be explained before
accounts. Accounting is a record of transactions that record how money
moves from one place to another. Understandably, accounting calls those
places accounts and arranges them in standard types. Everyone is familiar
with withdrawing cash from a savings account. Those are two accounts,
savings, and cash. You could spend that cash on groceries or clothing, two
more accounts.

The Basic Account types and The Accounting Equation are explained in the
Guide.

Table 2.1 shows the effect of an increase or decrease in each account type
and that important concept that does not need the debit and credit line.
The note and warning could be reworked to refer to debit and credit as an
option in preferences.

The Double Entry section is really an explanation of how transactions work
in accounting so rename it. Double entry and T-Account are useful concepts
to mention in the explanation. Unfortunately, double entry is confusing
with a default basic ledger view, and double line view in the interface.

Finally, a mention of reports. The accounting equation lists all the
accounts as positive numbers and every report I have ever seen uses
positive numbers in the report account types then follows the equation to
calculate the grand total. There is no benefit in producing reports
only understood by the GnuCash community.

Regards