Up and Down arrows already have a purpose in Note entry - they move the caret to a different stave.
As announced by Daniel, the next update will introduce separate key commands to move the shadow note up and down in pitch-before-duration mode. The commands can also be assigned to the arrow keys so that they behave similar to Finale’s Speedy entry.
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If any of you are mac users, I have created an override macro using Keyboard Maestro and have been using it with great success when I want to do a lot of fast input on a staff. Here's a Speedy(ish) Entry alt-key "override" macro
All I have to do is turn it on when I need that style of entry, and it speeds me up vastly when doing, say, a scale run on a clef I am less familiar with as @rafapolit mentioned struggling with above. It has some inherent limitations I can’t overcome but it’s definitely very fast for lots of note entry in a row.
Then when I wish to return to using arrow keys to move between staves (or voices), I simply toggle it off with a key command. Easy. Sorry I can’t help PC users on this but in any case, it’s been a handy workaround for the time being until, as mentioned, the next update introduces a better system.
I am sure that you are able to move fast in Finale in part because you are used to it. However, I’ll just say that a few months ago I did a note entry project in Dorico for numerous parts, which I did a lot from a computer keyboard, and I moved very fast – inputting numerous pages and parts per hour. I do not have experience with Finale but I have used Sibelius and MuseScore. Comparatively, I have not found Dorico’s note entry to have unacceptable friction - quite the opposite. The caret+grid methodology, automatic rests (and being relatively free of time), multiple staves at once, ease of duplication and moving/editing notes around from the keyboard, lock duration, force duration, the insert modes and stop bar and so on – there are so many fantastic tools which make note entry very thought out and from my experience, incredibly fast. Add to that all the popovers like Shift+I (note tools) and of course for dynamics, techniques, and ornaments, you can add all this on the go while still in note entry mode, to multiple staves at once if the music calls for it.
None of that is meant to be a brag or a dig – I am merely encouraging you to stick with it and perhaps think outside of trying to make it work exactly like Finale, and you will find yourself flying pretty soon, too. Plus the next update with improvements in this area, I think it will be even better.
Additionally armed with a Streamdeck, you can fly even faster!
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I agree.
I have zero issue with toggles or options being added that do not affect the core philosophies and function, but I can’t stand Finale personally and have no interest in Dorico being anything other than Dorico.
I tried learning Finale years ago and personally found it so clunky and the GUI dated I crossed my fingers it would disappear so I wouldn’t ever have to know it or be held back because I didn’t know it. I have loads of friends that swear by it, but it just wasn’t for me.
But the Devs are super smart so I’m sure they will find a way to help the influx of Finale Users without changing Dorico 
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Because you have to disable “use midi device for input” in the speedy tab on menu bar
Yes, I figured it out eventually. But it’s rather bizarre for the default to be “use equipment which you may not have”. (Even after Finale became able to auto-detect MIDI devices.)
I don’t like using midi devices I alway used numbers…is more efficient
A chord is one key press on a MIDI keyboard. Likewise an out-of-key accidental. And you don’t have to specify octave jumps to indicate which C you mean.
On a computer keyboard, they are inevitably slower and less efficient.
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Hello my friend, Charlie. I am struggling with the same thing. I think in intervals and can whip through a melody quickly with Finale’s speedy entry. I’ve been trying Dorico and gotten some tutoring, but nothing is as fast for initial note entry. Dorico—can you please add this feature?
Welcome to the forum, @Frances_Johnston!
The ability to move the shadow note with the arrow keys while using pitch before duration input was added in Dorico 5.1.60. You will need to go Preferences > Key Commands and map some key commands in order to facilitate this.
Here’s the relevant section from the version history.
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