I use a third party case with an internal compartment, and I think I prefer external. When I am out and about, not using my Deck, and want to pull out my charger to charge my phone or something, I have to pull out the Deck in order to get to that compartment. If the compartment were on the outside of the case, it would be simpler to get to.

With that said, I do not trust the elastic strap on the official case to keep things secure out there. So I keep using my third party case.