How is it different than the iPhone? So you have 1 home button, and the Note has a home button.....But you have the same other buttons as well, they are just at the top of whatever you have open as opposed to all being on the bottom like on the Note of Galaxy S phones.
I really dont see a huge difference. At least the Notes and those mentioned are all in the same place and not at the top of the page. Also, those other buttons do more.
If you hold down the search button, it will bring up multiple choices. It gives a voice search app, text message app and in my case, soundhound. In ICS if you hold down the home buton, it will bring up all the lastest windows you have used so you can go back to them faster instead of searching for th app or have to go to another page.
I really dont see the big deal. I find them quite functional being down there and it isnt a physical button that can stick or need to be replaced. Ive never ever had an issue with my capacitive buttons and my Vibrant is 20 months old.