What do people think about the keyboard on the N900?

I am currently experimenting using my N810 keyboard as much as possible as if it was an N900 keyboard. For example, only using the left Shift key, and only using my right thumb to hit Space. Obviously I can't replicate the cursor keys on the right-hand side, nor the Ctrl key.

Is the Ctrl key 'sticky' on the N900 (i.e. press and release then the next key you press is modified by Ctrl)? Ctrl+X/C/V etc. is going to be hard if not. And why is there an on-screen Ctrl key on the X Terminal toolbar?