Relatively few people have tried Topres, let alone tried multiple versions and even fewer have done it side by side. Many have a tainted view of them based on the low return on high investment. Let's face it, it doesn't really do anything a $50 or $100 board doesn't do. But they are built incredibly well, feel great and offer a great typing experience that most enjoy... then many go back to mechanicals like I always do. Topres aren't mechanical switches, they're rubber domes with a capacitive spring under them.
For me, I have to use Topres for at least a couple of weeks before you adjust to them enough to type correctly and utilize their capacitive switches. You just learn to relax and float when you type. It's very different than any other switch. If you just pound keys then you probably won't benefit from Topres as much.
For me they are all fun, 55g is more springy and thocky but sometimes it's a bit heavy on the pinkies if you're doing some serious input.
Boards with 30g pinkies were too light for me personally but you can adjust and be fine. I would ;;;;;;;;;; aaaaaaaaaaaa only occasionally.
The variable 35/45/55 is a great keyboard, I never had issues with pinkies and it seemed to be the easiest to adjust to when coming from mechanical switches
An all 45g sounds fun, I've never tried a HHKB Pro2
The fact that elite had 1 option for the 87u in white made the choice easy for me, if they would have had a uniform layout and a variable then I would have had to debate on it a while but in the end would probably have gone with the variable. If they had an all 45g then I would have got it because I've never tried one.
And remember, it's not to hard to mod a Topre to be uniform 45g. Ripster posted how.
I've tried the 103U, 87u variable, 87u uniform 55g, 87u variable silent... they're all great keyboards and there isn't one that clearly outshines the others by any significant margin in my opinion.
