[orbital-decay]

I find it awkward as well, but Google Wave worked exactly like this, and people praised it for this feature.

[cjauvin]

I think ICQ used to work like this too, and I remember how impressed by it I was.

[kingkawn]

Ahh the mountains of praise for Google Wave, I remember it well

[JeremyBanks]

It was ahead of its time.