For us old-schoolers, I think we like the traditional keyboard layout because, well, that's what we're used to. For newer computer users, they may not have those biases. I sometimes wonder if these alternate layouts are not, in part, an attempt by manufacturers to develop a new set of biases and thereby a new sticky/loyal set of users. If they can capture a bunch of newbs and get them used to their special layout, they may find it hard to switch to another brand. Whereas if they had made a more traditional layout, users could easily switch to another of the same or similar. Of course, they risk alienating the traditionalists.
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