Can someone explain how did he keep the price of the base kit so competitive? Why do some other base kits price higher and why are some able to price theirs differently?
As Mike mentioned above, one of the biggest factors in the pricing of the base kit was splitting the novelties, as well as keeping keycap quantity in check. While i would have loved to cover everyones layouts, the hard decisions come down to a balance of common layouts and realistic need.
I know I'm far too late to the party for this, but I do wish more sets would include R3/R4 PgUp/PgDn. I feel like I talk to people who use this layout, but maybe I'm just weird.
I'd suggest just slapping in novelties. But yes, Home/End/PgUp/PgDn is way more logical than Home/PgUp/PgDn/End in my opinion, which is used mostly for historical reasons? And you also need one less special keycap in the set...
This is a great example that i wanted to call out, primarily because it exemplifies how i arrived at most of my decisions. What should be covered, and how can it be done efficiently. This does leave a few users with maybe not their ideal caps, but novelties can always be used in a pinch, and it benefits the whole by not bloating the kits.
This keyset also had a unique problem as well.. Every extra modifier key added to the base, HAD to be added to the midnight kit for identical coverage. Adding one, is really adding two. Further pushing costs into a realm i felt like became unapproachable for people.
In the end everyone has different opinions on kitting, and it will always benefit some while punishing others. Huge kits are the cheapest per cap, but force you to pay for a majority of caps you might not use. Splitting the kits like some recently is high $/cap and keeps it cheaper overall for those that need less, but severely deters those who need extended coverage. My personal opinion is more in the middle. I've done my best to keep the kits low and simple, while breaking where i felt it made sense and wouldn't be a major deterrent for those wanting a little extra.
So for all those that might be missing a cap or two from your ideal layout, take solace in the fact that its absence likely helped somebody even get the set to begin with.
That said, thank you again for all those that have supported this set! We're less than a week out and I couldn't be more pleased.
See you on the other side!
-Neph
