Re: One wonders why such devices have become an accepted norm
I blame Hollywood, who has for the past decades made it look easy in every sci-fi flick they have made. From the impossible gestures in Minority Report to the abusively simple way voice commands are given in practically any film that uses them (thinking of the original Blade Runner right now - great scene, but still technically wrong), people have latched on to the idea that not using a keyboard/mouse interface is a good idea.
Well, we'll see how that pans out in the long run, but you'll take my mouse out of my cold, dead hands before I give it up.