It is unclear if the ESC key is now a virtual key on the touch strip. That might take some getting used to.

Sounds at least quite inconvenient for developers, which use ESC a lot. Some for the function keys.

However another thing that is concerning from this pictures are the other keys. If they now use the same ones than in the 12" Macbook the whole keyboard experience might be really a lot worse for many users.

I'm concerned about that as well. I've played around with that keyboard in the Apple store and it's not good for me. I have numbness in my fingers (cervical spine issue) and I need good tactile feedback from a keyboard. My 2014 Macbook Pro keyboard is usable, but even then, at home I have a mechanical switch keyboard I use with it. I'm not sure I could effectively use the new super-thin Macbook keyboard. There is a cost to all thinness obsession.

Doesn't Karabiner-elements work with Sierra now?

I already move the escape key from the upper left.

- CapsLock behaves like Control_R (except that it exists!) - Control_L behaves like Esc

It's also pretty common to make Capslock into Escape. While it sounds like a hack, it's pretty straightforward for most users that want an escape key.

So Apple has decided that innovation now means tacking on gimmicks from iOS. Neat.

One leak feature from an article; not an official Apple press release. And you made that conclusion.

I'm not apple fan boy. But sure, Neat?

What was the biggest feature upgrade for the new OSX? Siri.

Your every release should be crazy so you can get attention.