[q3k]

> That must be a pain in the ass to type in.

You get used to it, same as you got used to a QWERTY keyboard.

(note: this based on my experience often interacting with another device with an alphabetic keyboard, not an FMC)

[sooperserieous]

You do get used to it, but also the workflow is not entering words as much as it is things like waypoint codes, and a lot of numeric bits, which is why the number pad has its familiar layout.