Amber Alps are a bit of an enigma, we still have no idea where they sit in the timeline. It's quite possible, but wholly unknown at the time, that they were Alps' first ever clicky switch. Have you tried blue Alps as well, and if so, how do they compare?
I think SKCL predate SKCM a bit. That is, linear green Alps. Some of these have a black switchplate, same as tee mount Alps switches.
First SKCM switches were blue and "ivory". Someone dug up an early Alps catalog listing those two. Ivory = the tactile switch before orange Alps. The only source I know for them is certain Canon typewriters, and I’ve never seen them in especially pristine condition. Gray double-actuating linear switches are from the same era.
After that I’m not sure of the precise timeline, but among SKCM/SKCL switches with "tall" switchplate assemblies, there are brown and orange tactile switches, cream heavy linear switches, and amber clicky switches.
Perhaps amber switches were first intended for spacebars but nobody was buying them for that, so Apple bought a batch on the cheap?
Omron clicky switches came in amber and blue variants, roughly corresponding to amber and blue Alps, so presumably there was a point where Alps had both of those available. Soft clicky switches from Cherry, SMK, and NEC all also copied the blue color.
Then later Alps switched to short switchplates, in a generation including white clicky, salmon (and later black) tactile, green tactile, yellow linear, and cream quiet tactile switches.
how do they compare?
Amber switches are quite a bit stiffer than blue switches, stiffness similar to early clicky white Alps or even slightly stiffer, with a much snappier and louder click. Blue switches are elegant and understated, amber switches get up in your face.
People who like white Alps, Matias clicky, Model F, amber Omrons, or Cherry MX green would probably like amber Alps. People who like blue Alps might or might not.
