Typing fast is important for programming effectively. I have often ended up in the same situation you describe, where you walk into a room and not remember why you are there, but with typing. I’m working on a program, and I run into a difficult problem to solve. I sit back for a while to come up with a solution, and when I have it I try to type it in fast enough so I don’t forget it. If I go too slow, the idea is lost.
I type on a Dvorak keyboard, and I have for a few years now. For me Dvorak feels a lot more comfortable. I am not tempted to look down on the keys, because the keys do not match what I type. This means I can type without hunting for the keys, and I can rely solely on muscle-memory. I’m sure you can learn this with qwerty as well, but it is easier with Dvorak. I don’t type very fast though, I only got 64wpm on that test. But typing on Dvorak feels more comfortable.