I don't see how it could possibly be a matter of preference. Nobody prefers having bugger all options for controls. Especially in a comparatively complex game like Risen. I've only ever seen that level of shoddiness in the absolute worst console ports out there.
If you're talking about the full game and the full game actually knows what a keyboard is rather than thinking that it has as many keys as a 360 controller has buttons (funny, that), then fair enough. But there's no excusing the demo, even if you personally didn't have a problem with it.

I recall no significant differences between the demo and final release.
I excuse it because I can't even comprehend why you have a problem with it. :S Maybe you're used to playing games with tons of commands and that's the way you like it...Some games like that I find really overwhelming. Umm...Dragon Age I guess is a good middle ground for what I'm thinking. I felt very comfortable with that. Anyway for Risen I never stopped once and thought 'wow this is kind of inefficient.'
PB didn't develop the 360 port, which sucked.

Panzer General 3D Assault. It was a game when the 3D technology was new, and the devs didn't bother puting a good UI for they thought the 3D was enough to sell the game.
10$ for a beautiful shit.