I was about to say, the thread quickly went down hill when "you-know-what" was mentioned. Thankfully the thread rebounced.
Anyway I bought my HHKB was for reasons really other than the fact that it was based on Topre switch. The fact that it is using Topre switch was a bit of a bonus for me but at the point when my interest was heightened prior to my purchase of HHKB; the one of the main reason was that I cared about one thing which was that it is a "mechanical keyboard". Regardless of how people went about their own ways declaring that it isn't or it is hybrid/part/etc. To me it is a mechanical keyboard and not a rubber dome keyboard, or rubber dome on membrane sheets. Should one be curious as to my reasons for HHKB, they don't have to look any further than my thread which is linked on my signature.
I can be pretty cruel here and say that I wouldn't have cared if HHKB is usng Cherry MX, Bucking spring, Alps, or even Hall effect. The only thing that mattered was that it was reassuring to know that HHKB was virtually entirely made in Japan. I never knew that until much later on along with all the extra little perks for being HHKB owner such as hasu's TMK project or bluetooth modding project for instance. There are plenty more but I am not going to repeat myself over other every little perks of having HHKB.
I am just happy and content with my HHKB despite some of its shortcomings. I guess most other HHKB owners can somewhat relate when they noticed that HHKB lacked either this or that. The part that matters the most is that one has the said material. That is all that matters.
No keyboard is perfect for everyone, because everyone has their own taste/preference. To fight over preferences is quite silly. That is why there is a market for HHKB, there is a market for ErgoDox, there is a market for IBM Model M, etc.
The difference between an Egdx and the HHKB rectangle is NOT a matter of preference..
Egdx is fully programmable
It conforms to the shape of ones hand
It conforms to the natural resting angle of ones wrists
It can be modified for any mx switch.. linear, or tactile
If you decide you'd like a different switch, you can easily swap them out without desoldering.
Egdxs' split-design also accomodates people with broad shoulders whose arms are further apart
The HHKB... is derivative, and is quite simply the least common denominator in design, and it performs no better or worse than any other rectangular keyboard..
The only thing that makes it special is like you've said, it's "made in japan"... If being a weeaboo is all ur after... mission accomplished..
But to those who actually want to extract every ounce of knowledge and science out of the keyboarding hobby, to go BEYOND simple ownership and materialistic acquisition of trophies..
The path towards KEYBOARD zen is only revealed to those who are willing to rethink traditions and minimize their ancestral hoarding.
