This is such a bizarre unforced error. Why would they just arbitrarily remove a row of the keyboard? Taking it away and asking why I need it is like asking why I need right-click, pinch-to-zoom, or my left pinky finger. It makes no sense that we have to choose between fully featured input and active cooling.

Either way, based on this announcement I'll probably hold off on upgrading for another generation. That'll leave some time to see how the transition goes, and with any luck the next ones will include 32 GB RAM, Mini-LED, and 5G (along with a full keyboard).

Don't know why they didn't just add a screen to the blank function key width gap of bare aluminum between the keyboard and the hinge if they were looking to add some decoration to the keyboard. That would have been praised, instead it's been a pariah.

What do you use function keys for? I was thinking about this, and I don't think I've used a function key in years.

Step Over/Into/Out shortcuts in Xcode (F6/F7/F8) are the really obvious ones which I hit many times per day. Play/pause/etc. with the Fn key are easier to hit without looking than the touchbar.

I prefer that they change labels in a context-sensitive way. For keys that I don't use that often the icon is a better trade-off than a tactile response. Sliders are useful as well.

Jetbrains IDEs and VSCcode have a ton of default shortcuts using the fn keys.

I'm happily tapping away with them on a 2020 MBA

I'm not the person you replied to, but I frequently use the play/pause key and also the volume keys. I occasionally use the function keys in my text editor too.

Ok yeah I guess I use volume sometimes.

That's a good question. I can imagine some people never using them because of their particular workflow and software of choice.

In my particular case, I use them all the time. Edit some SQL, press F9. Select some files, press F5. And so on.

I can't work without the function keys.

Do you use IDEs for debugging?