I'm also "one of the 10%" and I do really agree with everything you said.
I seem to always have the phone resting on my fingers, when using one hand, like you showed, and did have my D1 gripped. I hadn't noticed it before, but it wouldn't be any different with any other 4.3 (with HTC's dimensions). I do use two hands most of the time though. When I go to unlock the phone, I press the unlock button with my left pointer finger, but seem to slide down the unlock with my right pointer finger.
I fully understand the complaints, but getting a new phone, I expected there to be some adjustments anyway