i dont notice mine unless i deliberately grab it on either side with two fingers and rock it side to side
the volume knob is not super easy to turn with just the thumb, sometimes i find myself deliberately using two fingers for more precision. but you dont need to use the volume much at all if you add replay gain tags to your files as i described in my tips list
they could remove the knob and just add two volume buttons instead
then the play button can act as the power button: hold 3 seconds for screen off, hold 5 seconds for power off, hold 10 seconds for forced off
or also add another power button, instead of using play button