I personally CANNOT stand to play a Tauren. I hate them, almost as much as Dranaei. I feel like an inbred cow with downs. So you have my vote on yes, Taurens are awkward.
I don't like playing Taurens for the sole fact that they have a giant stride - I know they are running the same speed, but it just seems SO MUCH SLOWER.
I've always liked the look of taurens end-game, but for me a Tauren Paladin doesn't really do it. Blizz should of just left the old race/class combos as they where in my opinion.
On another note, I really like the fact that taurens can now be paladins, because it's one of the class combos that actually make sense. I'd have liked Blizzard to shift a few of the skills to be used by the sun instead of uniquely for the Light as tauren cannot use the Light, they can only use the moon and the sun.
I really fucking hate night elf mages though. That was a terrible decision.