I don't know, these long devices are less common, or so I think, although it's true that usually phones are slightly taller than 16:9. I still prefer a 16:9 phone though, but as I said those phones are basically tablets nowadays.

(And yes, I enabled the gestures to try and I must say that swiping from the right edge to go back and from the bottom to go home is comfortable and you get used to it pretty quickly)