Today I saw someone gaming on a laptop but had attached a keyboard instead of using the built-in. Is this common?
Depending on the attached keyboard, it can provide more benefits for gaming. Some mechanical or gaming keyboards have n-key rollover support, shorter actuation distances, macro programming, etc., which can give you the edge in gaming. I actually recently reviewed a keyboard with magnetic switches, which has adjustable actuation distances, so you can register a keypress in as little as 0.4 mm of travel distance before you have to let go of the key and press it again to register the next keypress. This can make you really quick at games where you have to repeatedly spam a key.
Depending on the attached keyboard, it can provide more benefits for gaming. Some mechanical or gaming keyboards have n-key rollover support, shorter actuation distances, macro programming, etc., which can give you the edge in gaming. I actually recently reviewed a keyboard with magnetic switches, which has adjustable actuation distances, so you can register a keypress in as little as 0.4 mm of travel distance before you have to let go of the key and press it again to register the next keypress. This can make you really quick at games where you have to repeatedly spam a key.