f_scripts and fbp with the strings menu will still be quite helpful when using the Pinephone hardware keyboard.
However, really what should happen is keyboard mode should be disabled (e.g. always show strings submode); and also rather then taking bottom 1/3rd of screen, the strings menu should appear to the right as a vertical sidebar.
This switch could be based on automatic detection of the Pinephone keyboard being connected. Also should allow binding C-Up, C-Down for selection.