I don't think it is possible to drop the QWERTY interaction mode, and I wouldn't be surprised to see XSI get even more keymappings and work modes as time goes on (Max, Cinema4D, Lightwave). XSI is a product that needs to generate revenue so that stockholders hold onto and continue to buy shares of Avid. So in areas like this, the existing user base has less influence than the potential user base. See, they had *me* at hello.
The reasoning for adding the QWERTY mode in the first place, if I recall, was to allow studios to continue to use XSI when they couldn't find heaps of available XSI talent during ramp up periods. This is especially true of animation specialists (pronounced: AH-NEE-MAY-TORS), who are more likely to know Maya, and less likely to be amenable to changes in workflow. Most of the animators I've known who like learning new tools or don't mind taking on technical challenges have morphed into riggers (pronounced: FRUH-STRAY-TED AH-NEE-MAY-TORS).
So the alternate keymappings are really for those folks. If you are a 3D generalist or doing technical or other high end work in XSI using QWERTY mode, you should probably be working in Maya anyway.
Personally, I wouldn't mind of Soft decided to kill all the different work modes and just go with one, even if it's one I'm not currently used to. Then they could make it really robust, and really consistent across the entire app, and hopefully faster and more interactive. I think the way things are now, trying to be all things to all people is a noble pursuit, but ultimately makes it harder to work out bugs, kinks, and general clunkiness.
-Brad
