I'll let you guys know if it's a "stripped down" terminal or not in a few weeks when I finally get access to the terminals.
I use it on a daily basis and have been a user for several years. It's great because you have access to anything you might think of (charts, references, economic events, news, etc...). You can also access most of the data through the Python API or Excel. It's really easy to use and the helpdesk is fairly useful. Get a training before you start using it to know the basic functions and screens.
Learn to use it as much as you can. It’s a wonderful thing to have as long as someone else is paying for it.
but thinkorswim offers all of this too, so I’m wondering what does a Bloomberg terminal offer that thinkorswim can’t?
No comparison between Bloomberg and anything else. It’s too much to list. Explore it and you will see. If you don’t value it, that’s another story.