and why do so make people have this resolution?

Ive been trying it for 30 minutes now and my eyes are *killing* me. Im developing a headache from reading text so small.
doesnt this small text bother your eyes?

I always do 800x600 and the text is fine for me.
But now that im trying in the 1024x768 res theres a whole world of far right columns that Ive been missing, .