I really like having the thumb board, I can't imagine a device without it. This is part of the reason I went w/ the n810. I do dislike that the d-pad is on the same place as the keyboard, as it requires my left hand to stretch further than my right hand. This makes it difficult to type for extended periods of time. I do find myself having tired fingers after typing a lot, because it takes a bit of pressure to press the keys.

I haven't run into that many typos, and I have tested the OSK also. The hardware keyboard beats the OSK hands down.