Yea, I had this same concern, however I would like to make a strong point to defend the four buttons. Though not the ideal set up, the physical buttons were the only part of my Storm1's hardware that was still good after a year of use. The screen and even the lock button were already jamming up after only a short time. Also, most lint buildup was around the screen. There was some light leakage, but that's because it wasn't a well built phone.
It may shore up bad memories, but I think sometimes having at least some physical feedback is important in a smartphone (for example, if the touch screen freezes up). I personally don't think it's a reason not to by the phone. Though it does make it look a little less high tech than some of the other phones. But in the end, it may prove to have better function over form, and that's all I really care about.