[bvrmn]

This. It makes more sense to bind apps to homerow keys with some chain or modificator to "snipe" often-used applications instead of F-keys.

[codethief]

Not if you suffer from RSI and you want to use as few key strokes as possible. I really don't understand this trend towards minimalist keyboards. I want more keys, not fewer.

I mean, a pianist also doesn't put everything on their home row.

[aendruk]

Funny, RSI of a different kind is what pushed me to a minimalist keyboard. I pay the cost of increased complexity to avoid the strain of reaching distant keys.

[codethief]

That I do understand. But, for instance, I reach for my F keys with my entire hand, not by doing funny & painful movements with my fingers.

[seanw444]

More of a mnemonic in my case, not just homerow, but yeah launching frequented apps has never been more fluid than when I switched to my tiling WM.

[perihelions]

You can also get most of this configuration-free in Gnome. [Super] key switches to a spotlight context; one alphabetic letter focuses the most frequently used app with that prefix; and [Enter] key launches it without prompt.