My $0.02 for whatever it's worth...
I vastly preferred typing on my physical keyboard on my D1, and a physical keyboard is VASTLY preferable for phone gaming, than partially obstructing your view by having a GUI for in game controls.
That said, keyboards add a on alot of width, and the layout/design of a physical keyboard is a very personal preference in itself. Truth be told, Motorola is the only company I've seen successfully pull of a physical keyboard in the smartphone era.
Personally, a keyboard is a welcome addition, as I find myself often thinking that smartphones are TOO thin (like the Bionic, felt way to thin in my hands, and immediately decided the phone needed the extra heft of an extended battery).... But at the same time, a 4.65 screen could very well need an extended battery just to survive more than an hours worth of screen time....... and the prospect of a screen+physical keyboard+extended battery... might actually start looking like an ice cream sandwich.