7 years later and I still miss the slide out keyboard on the original Droid. I've never gotten used to software keyboards and they're an almost daily source of frustration.

Same. Although the G2 was even nicer, in that the keys were bigger, but you lost the dedicated number row.

I'd honestly be okay with a slab style phone, that's wider than normal, but still fits in the hand, so I can have a solid keyboard.

Something similar to the Peek: https://i2.wp.com/www.amitbhawani.com/blog/wp-content/upload...

Reminds me that Samsung have been offering a keyboard cover of sorts for their recent high end models.

http://www.samsung.com/us/mobile/mobile-accessories/phones/g...

Apparently it is not simply a passive device, but one the firmware is aware of when placed above the screen, as the screen actually shrink to account for the area covered by the keyboard.

Edit: That said, i can't help feel the world lost something when the leading light in phone design moved from Europe to USA, and in the process turning every phone into a flat piece of glass.