Mouse with Thumb Trackball
My boyfriend uses a mouse that has a thumb trackball. He bought it hoping that it would be more comfortable than his previous mouse.
The thumb trackball has proven to be more painful than beneficial, however. Rolling a ball with one's thumb is quite unnatural and strenuous.
I think that the main reason to protect your thumb is because it is the most vital part of your hand. Without a functioning thumb, it would be much more difficult to grasp objects. Humans (and primates) are special because of our opposable thumbs, and we should try to preserve our thumbs as much as possible.
