As a long time user of google and someone who has given DDG a significant 'chance' I am still using google as my default search.

Part of the reason is information density; I make a search on google and just instantly get more on the screen, and probably because I am so used to google i absorb that information much more quickly. I look at DDG and my brain hurts just a tiny bit trying to parse it all.. not sure how to explain it exactly. But as someone who really is into the idea of a search engine made for power users / programmers.. ddg just wasn't doing it for me.

Re keyboard shortcuts: this is not a selling point for me, nor should it be for any power user. It is trivial to map backspace to the back button in any leading browser. I personally use 'b' for back, 'j' for down, 'k' for up.