launchpad navigation is incomplete

While I like the idea of launchpad, I find it very frustrating at times. If the application I want is on the open page, no problem.

However, sometimes navigating to a different page fails to work. Often, a two-finger (or, failing that, a three-finger or even 4-finger) swipe doesn't work so I have to resort to clicking on one of the teeny-tiny-dinky page icons as the bottom of the page. [Note: the arrow keys don't change pages at all, rather they move to the next app icon] This works perhaps only 10% of the time and I get dumped out of launchpad and have to start over.

Then there's the problem of not being able to get out of a folder. For example, the Activity Monitor is down one level. After repeating the problem of finding the "Other" folder that Activity Monitor is in and finally getting that open, if I change my mind and decide I want to get out of that folder, there is NO swipe that will make that happen. There is no indication of how to make that happen. (I would have thought there would be an icon as there usually is on the iPhone [sigh, don't get me started on the horrible iPhone interface where it is usually impossible to get back to the last page I was looking at if my "fat-fingers" hit the wrong place on the screen or if the swipe motion I used wasn't interpreted correctly, but this is about launchpad and its inconsistencies])

Sometimes I can click on the top of the page and launchpad will go up one level. However, sometimes the name of that folder will be highlighted. (It is definitely highlighted if I single-click on the name) Once that happens, I can click and swipe or do whatever, but usually will still remain stuck in the "Other" folder. I have been successful on moving the pointer to the left of the name and clicking there to move up, but again, not always. Pressing the "esc" key does seem to always move me back up one level, but rarely will drop me out of launchpad entirely.

Most of the time when I enter launchpad the standard "arrow" shows where the cursor is. It might also be something else, in which case, the navigation problems seem to be exacerbated. This hasn't happened enough to get a firm understanding of the problem.

In my opinion, the consistency of the Mac Interface has been deteriorating over the last several years as new options are added. I am not opposed to the new options, but if they are going to be included, there should be some consistency in how they work.

The addition of a simple "up" button and "left" "right" buttons on launchpad would hardly detract from the elegance of the user interface. Then one wouldn't have to attempt to click on those teeny-tiny-dinky page icons at the bottom of the page or have to guess at whether or not the esc key will do anything.