I don't know guys but I think it's not that bad as you may think.
If you hate having to flip the cover to see the screen all the time, don't forget you can flip the Smart Cover to the back of the device while the magnet still holds on. That way you have a nice textured feel to the back of the device when holding it.
And you can keep the Cover on the back until you find it necessary to cover the screen when wanting to put it in your pocket that may have keys, coins, ect to protect the screen which is more important than the back since there is no screen on the back.
I think the smart covers would be great for the iPhone 4 design because of it having a 2 sided glass. The slippery feel of holding the glass on the back of the iPhone 4 gets annoying so flipping the Smart Cover to the back will allow that better feel and hold while protecting the back of the glass.
So what I am saying is you don't always have to have the cover to cover the front screen.
Booooooo!! Hissssss!!! we said NO! now go away...