If you use a keyboard with the ipad you have the same problem ... duh
Uh, no, you still have the virtual keyboard in two orientations that changes with the needs of the apps you are using. It works fine without a surface. The iPad and it's Operating System were designed from the beginning to work without a physical keyboard. Windows was not. The virtual keyboards on the Surface are pasted on, and the apps are kludged to work with a screen keyboard.