The pinky strain depends on your compatibility with the keyboard. I recently bought an expensive Microsoft ergonomic wireless keyboard (because my old dell one was too noisy) and while it's great for typing, it's a pinky-killer.
The problem with this one is that the Ctrl button is too close to the Z button. I have to bend my pointer and my pinky until they almost touch.
I had no problem with the dell doing this, but with the new microsoft keyboard I'd better learn how to use another finger for the Z.
After just a couple of days I'm feeling pain in the articulations. I do 3D and I probably hit Ctrl, Shift, alt, Z, X, C, V combinations about 20 times a minute. Funny I never had a problem with my dell keyboard (over 3 years of use). I guess "one-size-fits-all" doesn't go with keyboards.
Bottom line - try to find a quality keyboard based on reviews. Once bought, try to adapt to it if it doesn't feel natural. Try switching fingers (hard, I know) and ultimately, if you can't get used to it, buy another one. No point in sacrificing your health over a few $$$. A bottle of painkillers may cost as much as a proper keyboard :)
By “stretching”, do you mean folding/bending? Which hand are you talking about? I have no trouble pressing the left Ctrl key with my pinky, but doing so with the right one certainly crunches my finger. However, I can comfortably hold the right Ctrl key with my right thumb. – Synetech – 2011-08-01T04:49:42.327
3That's why Apple placed their equivalent primary keyboard shortcut key where the alt key is on Windows keyboard. Much easier on the fingers. – Daniel Beck – 2011-08-01T10:10:47.997
3Funny, I never use the pinky to hit the Ctrl Key. I just hit it with my outside knuckle. – surfasb – 2011-08-01T10:22:16.410
1My first thought when reading was "EMACS Syndrome". And @Daniel, Haiku OS does much the same thing, but instead uses ALT for what most other operating systems use CTRL for. – new123456 – 2011-08-01T13:30:27.890
1@new Interesting, unfortunately I'm not particularly keen on using an alpha release OS ;) – Daniel Beck – 2011-08-01T14:31:29.043
@surfasb, I didn’t notice until I looked at DMA’s answer, but apparently that’s what I do as well, I keep my pinky straight and hold the left Ctrl key down with the section between my palm and first knuckle. Now that I think about it, I’m sure that I probably never actually bend my pinky (which would be extremely uncomfortable, though not as uncomfortable as bending my right pinky to press the right Ctrl key since it is even farther from the letter keys). – Synetech – 2011-08-02T01:07:04.067
@Syntech: Yeah, there is no way I can reach the Ctrl without moving my hands off the Home row. I'm cursed with average fingers. – surfasb – 2011-08-02T05:21:28.910
@surfasb You got me imagining Superman trying to hit the CTRL key now. – digitxp – 2011-08-02T18:31:34.780