Indeed, buttons and dials can be learnt to operate blindly so that you can focus on what really matters: scene and composition. There is a reason why Fujifilm have become the darlings of the semi-pro scene over the last decade. Look at anything in the X-T series and every single parameter that you need to change in a second or lose the shot has a button or dial for it; without them being as bulky as full-fledged SLRs.

Phones with touch screens are great for shots where you have a high degree of control over the subject (yourself, food, etc.) and your physical relationship to it. But one must realise that there is a great deal of photography where this will not be the case.