It's nice to have, but something is wrong if that's the fastest way to start a program. Even if you're a fast typer (most people are not btw), it's way to slow to use with commonly used applications.
My favorite ways to launch the apps I use all the time are:
- Keyboard shortcuts! Seriously, try it :) available on most linux/unix gui's.
- The launcher in Mac OS X, or "pin" in Win7: After logging in to my windows desktop I often start 3-5 programs in 3-5 clicks. Would be a pain to have to type the name of them all one-by-one >(
- Customized menus. Works ok, but still find it slower than the others. Never use the menus in fluxbox, I just use keyboard shortcuts for the common ones, or a terminal for the others (almost as fast as typing the name in gnome3)
- Typing the name. Use it on gnome 3 and kde sometimes. Mostely becuase I haven't bothered to set up keyboard shortcuts.