Not on Linux, where the 'previous page' action is mapped to Alt-left by default. After being initially frustrated, I got really used to Alt-Left for going back.

The reasoning behind it is pretty smart too, because numerous times backspace can result in the loss of data, like when you're filling up a form and you hit backspace outside of a text box.

Indeed, I like the 'alt-left' keyboard shortcut, though I especially like it because it does the same thing in both Chrome and Firefox on both Windows and Linux! Yay for consistency!

No, at least for me (Firefox on Linux) Backspace doesn't do anything special.

The “backspace = back” behavior of Firefox is only enabled by default on Windows. The behavior is controlled by the about:config setting `browser.backspace_action` (http://kb.mozillazine.org/Browser.backspace_action).

It also appears to be enabled by default on Mac OS X.

Ah, thanks. I don't need it anyway :) Alt + Left/Right works fine.