W540 is being shipped - having second thoughts after reading such negative user reviews.

Question

Hello I just purchased a high end W540. ($3,500 including tax)
I purchased the machine Monday afternoon based on my trusted colleagues advice to go with Lenovo.  I didn't do nearly as much market research as I normally would because my current machine, Dell Precision is starting to act up after 5.5 years of excellent use, and I need a replacement sooner than later.   Even though, we went over the specifications with my colleague in detail before finalizing the purchase I don’t believe my colleague is aware of all the negativity surrounding the latest W540 model.
Although I think I will be fine with the W540 because most of the negativity is focused on the keyboard and trackpad I still would like to have some re-assurance the W540 was a decent choice for my needs.  It is possible that I may cancel the order (probably with penalty) based on the feedback I receive from this post but my preference is not to.
How I use my workstation:
I work with 1GB datasets and run SQL queries, do a lot of development in MS Access including heavy data massaging using VBA.
For me the most important thing is speed when I am working / developing with MS Access.  I also care very much about my Outlook, Web Browsing and YouTube experience. 
Ideally, because of the power of the new machine I will also setup Virtual Machines so I can test my applications in various environments.
90% of the time I use my laptop docked and connected to an external monitor, mouse and keyboard.
5% of the time I am using my machine for presentations connected to a projector so I like that there is a VGA output on the W540.  When I do presentations I typically use an external keyboard but I always use an external mouse.
The final 5% of the time I am using the machine as a laptop without an external keyboard but I always use an external mouse.
The Replacement Warranty is extremely important to me because if my machine is down I need it back up within 24 hours which is what the Lenovo salesman promised me. 
Things that Concern me about the W540
Heat around the track pad where the palm sits to the point that you have to remove your palm.
Keyboard design is cumbersome and track pad is unusable.
People have said that the Screen is flimsy.  I am assuming that could cause potential damage.
No LED for HD activity.  I am curious with a SSD does that even matter?
There is tremendous negativity on the internet about the W540. Other colleagues may question why I would buy this model with all the negative feedback.
Things that I like about W540
I was able to customize it with the CPU, RAM, SSD that I wanted and it’s a powerful machine.
4 DIMM slots.  However is it capped at 32GB or will I be able to put 64 GB in 3 years?
I am under the impression that Lenovo has the best customer service and that they will honor their 24 hour replacement policy.
It’s light and thin.  I have to admit my Dell Precision is a brick but since I use the laptop docked 90% of the time it’s not a major consideration.
The laptop looks stylish.
My W540 Specs:
Intel Core i7-4900MQ Processor (8MB Cache, up to 3.80GHz)
Windows 7 Professional 64
Windows 7 Professional 64 English
15.6" FHD (1920 x 1080) LED Backlit Anti-Glare Display, Mobile Broadband Ready
W540 NVIDIA Quadro K1100M 2G
16GB PC3-12800 DDR3L (4 DIMM)
ThinkPad New Precision Backlit Keyboard with Number Pad US English
ThinkPad TrackPad with Fingerprint Reader
720p HD Camera
512GB Solid State Drive SATA3
DVD Recordable
9 Cell Li-Ion Cylindrical Battery 99.9Wh
Country Pack AG with Line cord & 170W AC adapter
Intel Dual Band Wireless 7260AC with Bluetooth 4.0
Integrated Mobile Broadband upgradable
Publication - US English
1 Year Depot or Carry-in
4YR Depot/CCI + Accidental Damage Protection
ThinkPad Ultra Dock - 170 W US / Canada / Mexico
Thank you for your comments.

Answer 1

Hello.
Speaking now as a long time W-series fan and owner, and writing this on my W520, I don't think you'll be disappointed with the W540. Based on your chosen specs and the tasks it is destined for, I have no doubt in my mind that it will perform admirably.
I tried out a W540 with the 3k screen when it came out, which was ridiculously fast compared to my W520, but the only reason I got myself a T440p instead of it was the full-size keyboard since I use my W- machine about 50/50 docked / laptop. Today it is mostly docked though as the T440p has taken over as my main travelmate when I need the power it possesses. Otherwise I got a T440s too for lighter work.
My T440p has pretty much the same hardware beneath the "hood", besides the obvious larger specs of the W- series, and it is an absolute delight to work on, and it's by far the most powerful 14" machine I've ever used.
Regarding upgradability in the future, I can only speculate regarding the 16GB DDR3 RAM module compatibility, but I really don't think that they'll become a widespread solution as the new Broadwell Intels have been confirmed with DDR4 support. In any case, they will undoubtetly be a very expensive upgrade.
Regarding the reviews, they are many and vary hugely between users, I can only say that even though the negative ones tend to be much louder, there are plenty of good reviews on it too, and when it comes to the negative reviews, they mostly tend to focus on the changes on keyboard layout, the new ClickPad and the "lack" of vintage ThinkPad features, none of which I think are crucial when it boils down to the actual performance of the machine. I've also seen highly negative reviews on the 3k display and the scaling problems some programs have with such a high resolution display, but that is hardly Lenovo's, or any other computer manufacturers fault. Besides, since you ordered the FHD display, you won't have those problems.
I can't really comment on the Lenovo support in Canada, but here in Iceland, our Lenovo partner goes way beyond the call of duty to keep their customers satisfied. In all my years as a ThinkPad user, starting with IBM, which our partner here also manages, I've never had a single issue with them. The official online support is also the best I've experienced as well as these forums here, but this peer2peer network is unrivaled in terms of collected knowledge to almost any possible situation and scenario.
In any case, you'll probably have a completely different experience with it than anyone else, as it's a highly customizable machine, and personal preferences and experiences will always vary greatly. But I would most certainly do the same as your colleague and advise it for anyone looking for a powerful workstation.
Best wishes and best of luck with your machine if you go through with it!
Atli Jarl.
ThinkPad W540 (20BG) - i7-4800MQ/24GB // ThinkPad T440s (20AQ) - i7-4600U/12GB
ThinkPad T440p (20AW) - i7-4800MQ/16GB // ThinkPad Helix (3698-6EU) - i5-3337U/4GB
ThinkPad W520 (4282-W4Q) - i7-2720QM/32GB // ThinkPad T400 (2767-W1C) - P9500/8GB
ThinkPad T61 (7665-CTO) - T7700/4GB // ThinkPad T60p (8741-C2G) - T7400/4GB