I've got to plug the DK6 because I have been so impressed with it.
You sidestep loads of the expensive trial and error steps that seem part and parcel of diving into the ergo world. The totally flexible layout lets you experiment with just about everything:
-Split
-Total number of keys, anything from 40% up to (probably) full size. I am running 80 something.
-Ortho/staggered
-Thumb cluster arrangements- whether traditional vertical press or
-Tenting (someone has posted .stm files for and adjustable stand up to Thingverse, I just used a box to get tenting)
-Switch choices- each module is hotswap
Maybe if you already know your perfect ergo layout, you could handcraft your perfect board, but if you've not totally nailed it down, this thing will let you experiment and tweak to your hearts content.
This is a photo of my right hand board.
I make no claims as to it being pretty It's ugly AF, but the aesthetics of carefully selected key cap colours don't really matter to me. It's also still a work in progress. I went back to a a dedicated numpad (been missing one for 5-6 years now) and this board has let me do it without going full-size. I'm still trying to decide whether I prefer full ortho or staggered columns, and I am probably going to ditch the inward-activated thumb keys. Left hand board has a a curved thumb cluster with more keys because there's no numpad there, and the rest of the nav cluster (up/down/home/end). No layers for me!
https://imgur.com/a/DZG88tjThere are definitely some limitations:
-If you rely on layers, you need to run the keyboard software which is Windows-only. Fortunately, I don't run layers, I prefer dedicated keys and I can easily attach enough for my purposes
-No ability for concavity or a full Manuform approach to thumb clusters. Fortunately, contrary to my initial expectations, I don't really likehorizontally actuated thumb keys.
- Not at all portable- you cannot travel with this. Because the keys attach via strong magnets, if you threw this into a bag, you'd end up sliding the keys around on the board.
Overall, for someone who's just started trying the ergo approach, I am very glad to have started with this one- it's stopped me going through a series of "hey that's a great idea... bummer IRL I really don't like it after all" boards.
[Edits because I can't figure out how to use the list function]