The buttons seem a bit odd in a sea of touch watches, but I love them as a pebble wearer. It's meant a few things:

• They have a pretty consistent workflow (back, up, down, select) to them such that I can navigate the music control app without having to look at the watch.

• They're super convenient for winter use - such as controlling music while snowboarding without removing your gloves or trying to figure out where your earpod remote buttons are.