How do you perceive the new LG Optimus G Pro Android smartphone?

It's a pretty sweet phone, and there's a nice amount of hype, so I really should withhold judgment until the phone reaches us here in the states (sometime in the 2nd quarter is the expectation). But I'm throwing caution to the wind, and questioning the way this launch is being handled... we shall see whether the numbers end up confirming the insignificance of my marketing opinion. (If I'm right, official consulting hours are between 8 and 5, every other Thursday.)

First, a bit about the phone itself, starting with this picture LG recently released:

The percentage of the surface that is actual screen, particularly side-to-side, is pretty impressive... noticeably higher than that of the S III. I am wondering why LG is following in Samsung's footsteps by including a physical home button -- what am I missing, people? ...what reason is there for a physical home button? A few specs of the phone include a 5.5" screen (making this phone officially enormous), LTE networking, a quad-core 1.7GHz processor, and a competition-busting 13MP rear-facing camera plus 2.1MP front-facing camera. The AMOLED screen has a resolution of 400 pixels per inch (1920 x 1080 pixels), which LG is touting as great for HD video-viewing, with a hefty 3,140 mAh battery to keep up. Built-in storage of 32GB, plus 2GB of RAM, and finally that holographic design on the back that LG introduced in the Nexus 4, wrap up the highlights (and yes, you should be afraid due to the lack of a price projection). One minuscule downside: the phone is running Android version 4.1.2, though 4.2 has been out since the end of 2012. The differences between Jelly Bean 4.1.2 and Jelly Bean 4.2 are significant, so I'm only calling this downside minuscule because I assume updates will roll out quickly. Overall, definitely a note-worthy phone (or phablet, since it's 5-6"), with top-of-the-line specs, and an attractive design. So what's my problem?

We're excited about the LG Optimus G Pro now, watching Korea skip along with a shiny new phone we can't yet have; but we have a very short attention span -- we don't plan on being excited any longer, when we finally get it, in a few months. It might have made more sense to keep rumors swirling, but facts few, a little while longer, over here. Additionally, LG seems to be positioning the product as top-of-the line, no competition. So it may be, right now, but in a few months there will be bigger and better. LG has shown Samsung and HTC and Motorola exactly what they need to one up. Past precedent says they accept the challenge.

How do you choose what size phone to buy?

Let's get one thing straight: the hip pocket of average guys' jeans is deep enough to fit any size Android easily... in addition to a wallet,  a pack of gum, a pocket-knife, and an iPod; the hip pocket of average girls' jeans will grudgingly allow one end of an Android to be wedged in 2 1/4 inches, and will hold the phone in place only if the wearer stands still. In other words, don't base your decision about size on whether or not the phone will slip into your front pocket.

A reason to buy a big phone is that the more you can see at once on your screen, the more useful and simple the phone will be. A reason to buy a smaller phone is because it's more subtle and convenient. Personal preference determines where the balance  is between those two primary points.
Regarding thickness of the phone, there's really just one thing to say: thinner is better. Manufacturers like Samsung and HTC, particularly, are slimming down their phones beautifully. A feature that will add significantly to the thickness of your phone would be the inclusion of a slider QWERTY keyboard. This is just not necessary, in my opinion. Android touchscreen keyboards, Swype, and an abundance of additional options make a physical keyboard nothing but bulk.

A progression in phones recently has included the amount of phone surface that is actually screen, rather than frame. That means you can get a pretty good idea of the phone size by talking about the screen size. The information that smartphone screens range from about 3 to 5 inches, measured diagonally, tells you little. You need a frame of reference in order to determine how big a phone actually looks. A lot of manufacturer websites will show you the phone in comparison to familiar items, such as an army man or a credit card, but I've found that's not enough to get a good idea of its size. The easiest way to check out a phone's size without actually holding the device is by finding pictures of the phone in someone's hand. Look for reviews of the specific phone, for the most likely place in which to find these pictures.

UPCOMING POST: Final Installment of "Buying Guide" series -- Specific Recommendations