WRT switches, it's a little challenging to get both "snappy" and "quiet-ish / natural / not annoying."
This is because there have been a lot of "long-pole" switches recently that have an extended stem pole. It 'bottoms out' into the lower housing by crashing into it with the long-pole.
This can create a 'crisp' and 'snappy' feel but it is also very loud.
On the other hand, there are a lot of quiet and 'quiet-ish' switches these days. Some of them are snappy.
You seem to be looking for a light or medium-weight tactile that is snappy and not too loud.
Some "silent" switches are relatively "snappy." So your choices there are:
-U4 Boba [good tactility, somewhat like EC keyboards, can run them at 55 L - 68 G bottom-out normally, which is about 40 - 53 G actuation, depending on spring.] They are the quietest, but also mushy at bottom.
-OUTEMU Silent Cream Yellow Pro V3 / Butter Yellow [a budget version of the U4 Boba. They come somewhat pre-lubed, which is nice. They are mid-weight / mid-tactile, a little under the U4 Boba. Also mushy.]
-OUTEMU Silent Lemon V3 [a low to mid-weight light/medium-tactile, like an Ergo Clear. Silenced similar to the above 2 switches. So it's quiet, but mushy. Really benefits from hand-lubing.]
The above 3 switches are typically of the 'max-silent, max-mushy' category. They are the quietest, but least crisp/snappy. Next, there are 'office-quiet' switches that are less dampened, but more crisp at bottom:
-Kailh Midnight Pro [these are just above MX Brown in tactility, and are a low-weight spring, probably actuating around 45 G. Kind of similar to Silent Lemon, crisper at bottom but not as quiet stock.]
-Kailh Deep Sea Tactile Whale Pro [these are a medium-tactile, probably actuating around 50 G or so, and with greater tactility than Whale or Silent Lemon. Fairly crisp bottom-out.]
-TTC Silent Brown V2 [these are a light-tactile, just above MX Brown in tactility and weight. Comes with a minimal factory lube that works pretty well, springs could use more lube. Actuates around 48-50 G, I would say.]
-TTC Silent Peanut Latte [these are said to be a luxury version of Silent Brown V2. May come with improved spring-lube. May be slightly heavier.]
-AKKO Silent Penguin [these are a popular silent tactile that is probably in this category.]
-TTC Silent Bluish White [a snappy and authoritative mid-weight medium-tactile, it's crisp and decent in stock form.]
Next up are the regular tactiles. These doesn't have any dampening or sound reduction measures. There are honestly too many to choose from. I recommend a sample pack:
https://cannonkeys.com/products/switch-sample-packshttps://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004917452789.htmlSome recent crisp, long-pole switches that are 'ready-to-go' from factory are:
-WS Light Tactile
-Gateron Mini i
-Durock White Lotus
-KTT Macaron Orange
I have listed them in declining order of tactility. The above two are like light Ergo Clears [used to be about 48 - 52 G actuation on the old scale], and KTT Macaron Orange is like a snappy MX Brown.
There is also the TTC Gold Brown Pro, a light Ergo Clear, but it needs a little coat of lube to truly shine. [There are other long-poles, but these are relatively recent and good.]
Then there are the regular-pole, 'classic-style' MX tactiles. Again, too many to choose from, and some can be found in the switch sample packs.
Some switches that can be snappy and good, while not obnoxiously-loud are:
-MX Brown and Ergo Clear. Build the latter with 55 - 68 G [bottom-out] springs of your choice.
-KTT Mallo [these are actually pretty reasonable once the leaves and springs are quieted with lube. Probably needs at 58 - 60 G bottom-out spring for the light actuation you are looking for.]
-Durock Medium Tactile [you would use weights similar to Ergo Clears here, make sure to lube heavily to reduce noise.]
-Zealio V1 Redux [the OG custom tactile. Like an Ergo Clear. Tactile leaf is stronger than Brown-like switches. So they are snappy. Won't be loud if lubed right, and in the right build. Use 60-65 G 14mm springs.]
So those are some switch choices.
For keyboards, I found that the new M87 Pro can be found for about $24 USD [with the 20% discount applied].
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CXHWYRSVThat is extraordinarily cheap for what it is, but it doesn't have many 'custom' features. It's great for light-tactiles, though.
You can go up in the 'budget' category to the various Keychron V and other series, some of which are wireless and such. I like their V-series as a reliable budget entry keyboard.
So one way to fulfill your requirement would be:
-M87 Pro [$45 CAD delivered]
-KTT Macaron Orange [or Baby Blue] tactiles for $36-42 CAD delivered
You can buy some lube for ~$10 USD to lube the stabilizers with.
Some cheap keycaps from AliExpress can be found for about $22 USD during sales.
So that's about $125 USD to fully-outfit a snappy, poppy light-tactile keyboard.
Alternately, you could order a Keychron V-series during sales, 'fully-built' with Gateron / Keychron Pro Browns or Jupiter Banana. Shouldn't be much over $100 USD.
If you want to go the quiet route, get a chassis [M87, V-series, or one of many cheap 75% out there], and put OUTEMU Silent Cream Yellow Pro V3 / Silent Jade Yellow / Butter Yellow in them.
So you have a lot of options.
