I didn't start to really love software keyboards until some time after I got the Moment. Early on, I really wanted a hardware keyboard. Part of the reason I got the Pre. The Pre's keyboard sucked so I went to the Moment, which had a better one.
Then I discovered Swype. Used it a lot on the Moment, then upgraded to the Epic just because it was a better phone. My decision to get the Epic was based on other things, mainly the screen and the better processor than the Evo. But on my Epic I pretty much never use the keyboard except for emulated games. It's Swype all the way.
I might like my next phone to have no hard keyboard just to save on size/weight and complexity, but it's not really a dealbreaker. If the best phone available to me when I next upgrade has one, I guess I'll get it anyway. If anything it's nice for emulators.