@lordgreylock
First let me tell you how better my right pinky feels from not propping the N6 on it while one handing it. Mine was also rooted and unlocked. That did really improve the phone. And as someone who always thought bigger would be better. In hindsight that phone is the limit I could deal with. I have big hands.
It was actually funny going to pick up the Note 5 I thought about the days when the smallest possible phone was the best (Razor).
I never had a problem with Touchwiz though I use a non stock launcher which really makes the phone your own. I've now had it at the gym. I do not like headphone jack on the bottom of the phone (minor). Volume is good but not ear shattering (but it gets loud enough) (had to root the N6 just to hear headphones and in call volume). I also LOVE having a dedicated home button AND the back button to the right!!!!! Putting it on the left side like the N6 on a large screen is ridiculous. Your always stretching your thumb to navigate back. OMG that drove me crazy!
It's funny in the quest for screen size it's what you miss going back to 5.7 that matters. Honestly I can't say I notice any real difference after being away from the N6 for a day. Yeah you notice a web page was a a smidgen bigger but you don't feel like you stepped backwards (I don't play games or video). Tall and narrower is better than wide and bulky.
For me there was no choice whether I got this phone. I'm on Big Red and their zero finance pay by the month (does not affect your plan in anyway) deal is a joke (in a good way). Seriously I'll pay it off in 5 payments (didn't want to spend the $700+ all at once)(no prepayment penalty) it's a deal.
Lastly for the moment. The Samsung Smart Switch software makes transferring everything a breeze. And transferring photos via wifi is blazing fast. Also I use Handcent Next sms. Its a great app. I pay the premium plan and you can back up texts and pictures to it from as far back as you have them on your phone (or multiple phones). You can also merge any and all old and new back ups so you have total conversation history. I only bring this up because I backed up and restored conversations from 2011 with 20,000 messages per conversation. Note 5 restored it blazing fast (couple of minutes).
Battery update: I was at 98% (12:42pm) when I first posted. Streamed music for 2 full hours and have used the phone moderately. 7 hours 55 minutes off charge at 53% now. Says I've got 9 hours left. Use: Cell standby 10%, Screen 9%. Decent but not great. Time will tell.
If you were asking me I'd say go pickup the Note 5 (you can return it). I think it will feel refreshing after owning a phone that was supposed to be The One. And turned out to be just a phone.
Good Luck.
I just read this and had to include it.
"The display on this is. Absolutely. Ridiculously. Awesome. It’s not the resolution, which is the same as the Note 4, but
everything else, including contrast, color accuracy, and performance in ambient light. Comparing colors from the Note 5 to the
Nexus 6 (my previous daily driver) the Samsung phone makes the Google phone look like a heap of garbage." WOW!!!!!
http://reviews.gizmodo.com/samsung-galaxy-note-5-review-the-best-android-phone-th-1726228849
