That sounds like a plan that will likely not result in disappointment.

Information about which posts you've seen, read and reacted to is still user data, even if they have only a username and IP and not your real name, home address and social security number.

I'm "on" four keyboard-related Discord "servers", but I'm not very active. I find being on Discord not a casual way to hang out and discuss, but a like a chore.
I'd have to wade through lots of messages that I'm not interested in, and the user interface for navigating older messages is very lacking.

I would just copy some tutorial for the your first custom keyboard and only add changes when you are confident with the basics. I watched a guy on YouTube building a custom keyboard and it was already quite a big project. It's very easy to underestimate projects and overestimate your abilities.

The only reason I would build a custom keyboard, is if I had strong material engineering knowledge (which I don't), had research on the biomechanics of my specific hand for computing the optimal geometry of the keyboard  (which I don't), and had a good idea for the time investment required (which I also don't).

The Imprint keyboard does make keyboards taking photos from your hands as input. I have no affiliation with them.

So, objectively, building a keyboard should be seen as a hobby, a way to learn a bit about PCBs, microcontrollers, etc. Expecting a keyboard to be better, might be too optimistic.

These days there are a lot of fantastic custom builds on the second hand market that are extrtemely cheap for what they're offering. Especially with a budget of around 200 you can get exceptional builds, often with switches (and keycaps if you're lucky -or have good negotiating skills).

So basically you'll get a custom, but prebuilt for you by someone else. A point to consider is that you'll have to do your homework if you want to go this route, in regards to your requirements.

Hope this is helpful.