Thanks all for the replies--my impressions playing with them at Apple have been positive. A couple quirks outweighed by what I would simply call "a nice change" from my previous Apple phones. For me phone usage is about 50% Safari; 20% email; 20% navigation (Navigon, which I think has been updated for the X) and about 10% phone use. Despite the narrower screen than my 7 Plus, I just like the feel of the X.
The overall comfortability of the iPhone X and smaller form factor is key for this new iPhone. The iPhone Plus is larger and More cumbersome to handle, but with the smaller form factor, the X feels great in the hand with the stainless bands and I find I don't need to use both hands as often As I do with my iPhone Plus.