As the first to voice clear opposition to this change, I would like to add:

This was part of, or a side effect of, trying to solve some accessibility issues regarding meta boxes. Solving such is prime.
It's not about "wasting time"! Please read the ticket and the previous ones, leading up it.
It's, in my view, a discussion about the "essentialness" of being able to drag meta boxes around, seen as a third level option, or as a major, standalone and expected always available feature.

Additionally, a rather academic discussion of whether this ability is to be called a " Screen Option" or not, and therefore belong under the "Screen Options" panel, versus kind of standalone.

The thing is now reverted. The basic issues will probably be revisited in the next cycle.