I love Alt+A, I got used to using it very quickly. In addition it fits perfect with rest left hand position:
If that’s your resting position, you’ll have to move every time you use B, C,E,R,F,G and every other important shortcut in blender.
I would have at least expect blender user to use either the normal typist position where you use the pinky for A.
or for gamers the ring finger because of the ASWD key.
Even though the Alt key may imply alternative of the pressed key. In terms of usability, blender foundation should know that any key combination represent a lesser importance of that function due to additional workflow key press. This is proven by typist where reduced key combination increase overall speed.
So
One key press - highest importance function as it is fastest
Two keys press - middle importance function as it is fast
Three or more keys press - lower importance function as it is slower
The introduction of Alt + A essential meant this function (to deselect) is not as importance, which I believe isn’t what blender foundation had intended. If it is due to a technical difficulty, they should add the shortcut not remove the ability to deselect using one key press. In terms of how other program do it, you deselect by click outside the vertex, which is still a one key press.
I feel really weird modeling in blender because I use “A” a lot to DESELECT things, when was the last time you needed to select ALL, most of the time we DE-select All
You’re not the only one, previous version blender uses A to deselect after you’ve selected something. So a lot blender user should be on the same page.