Chris Evans, who plays Captain America, said that even after a few weeks with a newer phone, he still preferred his old one. During his press tour for The Gray Man, he talked about the topic in an interview with Collider.
Evans is not the only person stuck on the missing button, as Apple swapped for a solid circle with taptic engine feedback on the iPhone 7, and eventually dropped the phone altogether. Evans thinks it is too heavy. The recently-refreshed iPhone SE won't do as a replacement for the actor who struggles with bulkier phones.
Evans confirmed that his new phone is an Apple product, but not the one we thought was from the original post on the social network. The older model, which Apple dropped from its lineup last fall, is still readily available from other retailers.
It looks like the beloved button won't be coming back. If you want to add a software-based virtual home button that you can put anywhere on your screen, you might be better off using Assistive Touch. The only thing I can think of that would address the phone's weight is if Apple changes its approach to the mini.