> No more opening links in a new tab with a single button click. Ughh.

Sounds like they have virtual buttons to support the old functionality http://www.thinkscopes.com/thinkpad-buttonless-trackpoint/

I know the Windows drivers for this stuff is lacking, but on my MacBook, touch gestures have made my mousing way more productive than my old multi-button mice did (even with all the chording and stuff). Three-finger tap to open in new tab, swipes for back and forth and switch tabs, virtual monitors, etc. And a large trackpad that takes the space where buttons used to be makes that possible.