I like it. I especially like that it also enables text-selection in a sensible way.
Unfortunately, we've become used to the selection column, and this doesn't have it. I'd prefer to have the selection column, and have shift-select work there as well.
For now I'll keep my own server-side click handler, but you inspired me to fix the text selection:
UI.getCurrent().getPage().executeJs("getSelection().empty()");
@Vaadin: This should really be part of the core functionality.