I take it you are referring to bug #7391 ("Keyboard gestures no longer work" - Closed, WontFix, by design)?

If so, you should vote for bug #8542 ("Add sane shift mechanism to virtual input"), although this won't resolve the issues introduced by bug #7391 which really does need to be rolled back and re-thought as the new method is a very bad idea.

I wholeheartedly agree with your rant as the PR1.1 VKB is now impossible to use while on the move (ie. a train). The VKB is now only usable when completely stationary, but in such a circumstance I would be more likely to slide out the hardware keyboard. Typing a quick message when being jostled in a vehicle of one description or another is complete history now.

Whoever approved this change of behaviour needs a really good shoeing, and should also do more testing of new input methods when away from their nice, comfy and stable desk.