The problem with these companies is the gimicky aspect. The boards are hit and miss and with all the great quality mechanical boards out there I can't justify buying these "gaming" boards because they have an extra feature or two you will likely never use. I use a TKL now as a result and never find myself yearning for more features. In order for the companies to make prices reasonable, they will sacrifice quality for these overrated extra features. Such as Corsair's board not being completely mechanical.
The typing experience of a solid board greatly surpasses a medicor built board with more features in my opinion. If you want features over quality, the Logitech and others may be the brand for you. But really gauge what you will use. Because while some of these features may seem great on paper, they truly become useless (Deathstalker LCD screen and LCD macros).
Respectfully, for many gamers, these added features aren't perceived as gimmicks at all (ok, the LCD screens
totally are, but then the G710+ doesn't have one). Also, the 710+ is reported to have a quality PCB. I'm so mad at myself because I can't find the link, but there was another hardcore keyboard enthusiast forum I came across and someone well established there claimed to know (but coyly would not reveal) who made the PCB for Logitech. They WOULD say the Logitech G710+ PCB was on par with Filco (or did they say CoStar?) for quality. Again, thinking (erroneously, thanks to Newegg) I'd have a two year warranty, and knowing from experience that Logitech has amazing customer service, I was willing to give it a shot at $99 because
it had the features I wanted and that
I know from experience I actually use and rely on. I would have actually preferred it NOT have macro keys in order to have a narrower form factor, but if they're there I use them. Gimmick to you, convenience/quality of life for the unwashed keyboarding masses - particularly gamers. People look at the lesser quality keyboards because they have features the snobby keyboard makers like Filco won't condescend to produce. I mean, a tank would be more rugged than my IS 250, and certainly would handle better in the snow, but it doesn't mean I'd rather drive one and give up my heated/air conditioned leather seats and nice stereo.
All that said, I am apparently trainable, because after processing the G710+ return with Amazon, I placed an order for a CM Storm Quickfire Rapid. Hopefully the lack of features won't drive me crazy once I (hopefully) adapt. No keypad means I lose some of my WoW keybinds, but since it's the champion of quality combined with affordability in mechanical keyboards, I went with it. Reviews on the other CM mechanical keyboards (ones with backlighting and/or number pads) seemed to show some issues and they had slightly lower overall consumer ratings. I also decided to go for broke and get it with Cherry Blue switches instead of the brown - it was cheaper for whatever reason ($64 instead of $79) and if I decide it's not quite my cup of tea, I'll have an excuse to try something else.
I DO wish CM offered a dedicated mechanical number pad to augment the TKL board. There are only two I could readily find - one by Adesso with poor quality mechanical switches, and the Filco, which costs a dollar more than the CM Storm Quickfire Rapid! If CM could make a dedicated mechanical keypad for at or under $35, I would snap it up in a heartbeat.
From everything I've read, your best bet, especially as an entry level mechanical keyboard user, is the CM Storm Quickfire Rapid - although you'll want to go with browns, not blues as I did (and hopefully will not regret. lol)
