I've never owned a Model M, but seeing as I'm located in the same city as Unicomp AND they're shipping a new TKL M soon... Might be worth it. Would need to make some space though...
Buckling spring is something that really needs to at least be experienced, even if you don't end up preferring it. They may let you in to see around and maybe try out a Model M. From everything I have seen, they seem to be pretty friendly people.
If you don't like some of the characteristics of the Model M, there's always the Model F.
I'll put some thought into that! Honestly, I'd love to give them a shot before going in on a purchase. I don't like making uninformed decisions when the thing I'm buying is $100 or more.
And I've given some thought to looking at Model Fs, but what I'd really like to try is an IBM beamspring board. Just looks and sounds so satisfying to use, from the things I've seen. Definitely not anywhere still producing those though, to my knowledge at least!
Beam spring boards are pretty complex ... and built like literal tanks. If anyone were to ever want to recreate them, they would have a hard time selling them for a profit.
They're hard to describe. I can tell that the Model F was meant to feel similar. Beam Springs almost feel like they're not connected to anything at all. Almost all you feel is perfectly smooth travel down. The tactile event itself is more clicky (as in sound) than it even is tactile, yet it is still somehow satisfying.
There was a recycling place that had a displaywriter board a few months back. They knew what they had though, so I didn't want to cough up $1,000 for it, given the layout. That was my shot to try one though.
There is this, if it ever actually comes out. It certainly has the potential to dethrone Kaihua's box clickies.