> There's something very human and intimate in the usage of it, despite modern clamshells obviously having better viewing angles and giving you a better posture. They feel very natural and intuitive, in the same way a pen and paper does.

There's also something more social about it, if you're using it to take notes while around other people. A screen pointed towards you is a private space; a screen visible to the room is more public (and less prone to distraction as a result because it's obvious to those around you if you're fooling around).

I use a TRS-80 Model 100 as a notetaking device for that reason. (Well, also because it's nearly incapable of doing anything that could distract me on the go!)