I own two (older cherry version of) TECK boards and I love it. I don't think I will like its new layout because I am used to the old one.
Readjusting to a particular variation on a theme is no big deal, although if you found yourself with 2 different layouts on otherwise more or less identical boards that might be annoying.
The TECK layout is certainly better than good 'ol bad 'ol staggered qwerty; if you "get a good one" I can see why you would love it compared to a stock staggered board. That said, it loads the pinkies heavily, and there's no adjustment to split or tenting (although the latter goes for most non-2-part boards). If I was buying a new board, and, specifically like the OP moving from an adjustable split (still staggered) board, I'd go for something different.
Probably the easiest suggestion is Matias' ergo pro. It's more expensive than doing a "like-for-like" swap with the goldtouch, but Matias' stuff is solid as a rock. On top of that, qualitatively, the matias switches piss all over cherry anyway; most who've tried them will agree, if only for the quietness - comparison with the goldtouch rubber domes is laughable. The layout is close to the goldtouch, adjustment time should be minimal.
Then comes TECK, but it seems to be a 50/50 chance of getting one that actually works. As the OP writes a lot, (s)he isn't likely to be happy to find dropped, repeated and transposed characters. The chance of having that happen and then almost certainly finding TECK don't want to talk to me would be enough to put me off, and it would require learning a new layout to boot.
Ergodox & co are too young, it's a big investment of time in learning & customising layouts and layers (although if you get one prebuilt it should at least work). The DIY approach, if you will. And the non-DIY ergoclones don't even have that benefit.
After that, you start getting into kinesis / maltron territory (but they have rubber domes) and the OP is already doing well enough with a split staggered; worth the money - perhaps if you have real physiological need but I doubt it in this case.
Businesswise, TECK company is either not understanding its target audience or it is targeting a different group than people of this forum. The keycaps is cheap ABS and is impossible to find replacement caps for.
I think you're conflating the people who want to stick
un-ergonomic crap like this on their keyboards with people who care about usability. There's 2 communities here, and not a great deal of crossover between the two.
As for TECK using cheap clone cherry keyswitches and pocketing the difference, I wouldn't expect any different from any company. You're not going to notice the difference anyway except perhaps in the very long term.
