With the little experience i have had playing with an e71, and the e61i i had, the space bar in the middle was a very nice touch. But those phones were not as wide as this phone is. I think with using your right thumb, and how most people will likely grip the phone, there will be a more natural feeling to pull your thumb in towards that space bar as opposed to stretching to the center. I know it's not much of a stretch, but when holding a keyboard that wide, I could see how the natural movement of the thumb would be to go towards the wrist and hand, and not out towards the center of the device.