Regardless of whether Jobs would be proud or not, for both iOS AND Android AND Windows Phone, touch screen keyboards are the #1 most popular type, and for good reason. The people have spoken.
If they were such a hidrance people could always still buy the keyboard models they abandonded en masse starting 2007.
Not really. Phones and tablets are mainly used for consuming data, not creating it. Text messages / whatsapp are usually short. Do you actually know anyone that writes more than a normal letter page on a touchscreen? (I am sure they are out there, but in a minority).
If they were such a hidrance people could always still buy the keyboard models they abandonded en masse starting 2007.