It is no more a gimmick than the standard mode of rendering. However, it does have an adaptation cost.
A comparable example: I went to the trouble of creating a custom key binding for my old laptop that was a standard US layout, except the numeral row was symbols by default (i.e. Press shift to get numbers), because I only used the numpad for numerals. It worked, but relearning was too painful. If I'd learned it that way from the beginning, it would just be normal.
Yes, it's a gimmick. The question whether it's a useful gimmick is an open one. I'd try it out probably, but probably it would end more confusing than helpful after the novelty wears off.