My 2006 has a workable solution as well that doesn't require a traditional key, there's a slot you can put your key fob in to start the car even if the battery in it is dead (only option on trims sold without the Smart Key System) and the driver door has a mechanical lock that can be opened with a key hidden in the fob.
Keyless entry and ignition is a great convenience, especially for my wife since she can keep the fob buried in her bag - and it makes it easy for me to put my daughter in the car without trying to wrangle the fob out of my pocket to unlock the door. But it floors me that so many manufacturers just ignore the use-case where the battery in the fob is dead...
But do they, though? I'm thinking it's just a matter of actually reading the owner's manual.
For instance: there's a key hidden in the fob of my Nissan Leaf that is able to mechanically unlock the driver door, same as your 2006. To start the car, you place it against the "start" button. I'm assuming there's some inductive trickery going on.
Anyway, I'd be surprised if our cars (2006 and 2015) were the exception, rather than the rule.
We're on our third keyless entry car. The 2014 Chevy Volt was the worst, but they all had that feature. I had to read the manual to find the trick, but you:
* Open up the compartment on top of the center of the dashboard
* Take out the rubber liner on the bottom of the compartment
* Pop the mechanical key out of the fob
* Poke the mechanical key into an unlabeled hole in the bottom of the above compartment
And bingo, your car will start.
The Kia Sorrento we have with a keyless system is much more sane: The center panel has a really obvious place to push the whole keyfob in, and it will start with a dead fob battery.
The Toyota Prius we used to own also had keyless, and also had a place to insert the whole keyfob to start the car when the battery died. And it was also pretty obvious (and labeled).
It's only the Chevy Volt where it was an absolute mystery what you're supposed to do (unless you read the manual). I don't think I would have ever guessed that you should disassemble the compartment on top of the dashboard and stick the key into an unlabeled hole. Would have been afraid of shorting something out.
On my Ford Fusion, it apparently has a passive RFID chip in the key fob in case the battery dies, and the reader is in the bottom of the cup holder. And a hidden key inside the fob, that you can use to pry off a plastic shroud on the door handle to get access to a hidden cylinder lock on the door.
I have a 2010 Prius with keyless entry and start - you just need the key in your pocket or bag. It may sound a bit gimicky, but I really like it. No more hunting for the key, I just leave it in my ruck sack.
If the battery dies there is a hidden key in the fob that can be used to unlock the drivers door. To start the car you can hold the fob on the 'Start' button - there is an RFID chip inside which is read.
What? I had a 2004 BMW that would charge the key battery through induction when you had it in the ignition and the car was running. Battery never died in 10 years owning the car. How have things gotten worse since then?
That's my point, why would I ever buy keyless entry/start? Of all the things that bother me with car ownership I never felt burdened by having to put a key in the ignition. That's the best part!
The only appealing thing to me would be that keyless entry/start usually comes with remote start, which in the northern climates would be nice.
But I'm with you as far as having a physical key goes. Never have I thought, "man, this key stuff is just so tough!" especially since every other door in my life still uses a mechanical key which would likely be attached to the remote key fob. When I get home and turn off the car I'm going to need those keys in my hand anyway to get in my house.
Keyless entry and ignition is a great convenience, especially for my wife since she can keep the fob buried in her bag - and it makes it easy for me to put my daughter in the car without trying to wrangle the fob out of my pocket to unlock the door. But it floors me that so many manufacturers just ignore the use-case where the battery in the fob is dead...