I used to think the same until I got a T480. I was drawn to it because it was one of the few laptops that still has a direct hardware Function-key row (I use linux, so software Function Keys are not fun).
The keyboard, while mechanically excellent, is horribly designed if you depend on it to do your job: They "innovated" by moving the Home/End keys up to the Function row, they "innovated" by completely removing the context menu key from the keyboard and placing the PrintScreen key (of all things) in its place, and they also placed the Fn key at the bottom left corner of the keyboard where Ctrl is usually located (you can fortunately swap Ctrl/Fn with each other in the bios, so the last one isn't a issue if you're willing to live with mislabeled keys).
If you're a heavy keyboard user, I strongly suggest properly testing a laptop's keyboard before buying.
While I never used the context key (and indeed neither my 60% layout nor the original IBM Model M layout seem to have it anyway), I don't see the purpose of a Print Screen there either.
The Fn/Ctrl swap is... confusing. I'm guessing Lenovo tried to copy the MacBook format without thinking it through. Personally, I prefer Caps Lock as Control, though. I never use Caps Lock.
Home and End on laptops have almost always (it seems) been up on the function row. On a traditional layout, they're to the right, which obviously would not work on smaller form factors. Even with the 7-row keyboard, it was on the top.
Having tried other light laptops including the MacBook 13, the XPS 13, the HP Spectre 13, the Razer Blade Stealth, and the Dell Latitude 73 something or other (this was pretty good)... they just can't compete mechanically. No concavity on the keycaps is a big bummer. Some of them are obnoxiously loud. Some of them have piss-poor tactile feedback. Some of them are okay, but lack travel. Some of them bottom out too hard. Some of them bottom out too softly. It's a rough keyboard game out there. None of the layouts work for me on their own, so I always have to end up tweaking them slightly to my tastes. Caps Lock is useless to me, and I prefer Backspace being one key down. I've considered swapping Right Shift, but I'm not sure what to swap it to. Any ideas?
Personally, I'm currently standardized&stockpiled on two legacy ThinkPad models, and one of the reasons is keyboards. I also transplant keyboard parts manufactured to T60 specs, into later models, because Lenovo started making the keyboard flex-prone, even as the part was otherwise equivalent.
For some reason some screws have fallen out the S1 and I have no idea where to get replacements, but it still feels fairly sturdy. I like the keyboards on both machines even though they are very different. The track pads are decent for a Windows laptop.
I really wish Lenovo would open retail stores. It would be nice to be able to try the machine out before you buy it and have a local place to take it for service.
The cruft that they pack in are a bunch of system utilities that replicate the basic Windows tools. It's mostly stuff about Wifi management, power management, etc... None of it seems to be very well made and I recommend getting rid of it all and getting as close to a stock version of Windows as you can.
