I think instead we should just agree on subjective categories that an ideal review should touch upon. Rather than come up with numerical metrics that no one can agree on.
Cuz it seems to me, when someone is out there trying to decide whether a particular keyboard is right for them, basically their search can indeed be broken down into a few important categories.
For instance:
1) Resistance level: In a lot of ways, the search for a keyboard is a lot like searching for oneself. (Caution: Zen ahead). Because you cant know what you want until you know what you like. And you cant know what you like until you know who you are. For instance, I always say that a person should know the resistance range (in grams) that they like on their keyboards just like they know what t-shirt size they wear and what shoe-size they wear. You cant walk into a clothing store and pick out a t-shirts if you dont know your size and dont know what you like. So thats the first thing - one must figure out the range of resistance they like, and only then the range of resistance available out there for purchase in the keyboard universe will make any sense.
For me for instance, i'm pretty sure I like a range between 55gm and 65gm. Use the ripOmeter if necessary.
To some degree resistance can be "tuned" or modded on many boards (physically modifying the springs, and/or applying grease or teflon spray to the stems, etc).
2) Audible feedback: volume level. Similarly one needs to know what kind of volume level one likes. When talking about volume, this can be readily broken down into three components:
-click: built in click. Do you want it and how loud do you like it? (The preceding was not a sexual proposition). You can tune this to some degree by modding the springs or leafs on boards, physically or with grease, etc.
-clacks -- topping and bottoming clacks. How loud and do you want one or both? This too can be modded or "tuned" to some degree on many boards, with rubber washers, O-rings, etc.
-Reverberation - some boards produce reverberation noise much more than other boards. This can be tuned to some degree (by applying goo (like plasti-dip), or sound dampening foam pads, etc)
3) physical feedback: tactility. Usually produced by the spring or leaf. Do you like a big hump? (The preceding was not a sexual proposition). Small hump? no hump? Sharp bump? Steady friction?
I think there are three styles of tactility based on the location where the tactile feedback occurs during the downstroke: at the top of the stroke, throughout the downstroke, or only at the bottom.
- membrane boards for instance have their resistance all up front, once the key is pressed, the resistance drops to zero.
-BS switches and spring switches in general have some level of resistance throughout the downstroke (whcih I like), though how much will be there, varies by make and model of the switch. (With topres, very light, with BS, quite noticeable, all the way down to the membrane).
-With some very light switches the only tactile resistance you'll notice is when you bottom out.
If the above describes the location of the feedback on the downstroke, then there is the question of the amount of the tactile feedback: light, medium, heavy. And other descriptive qualities like sharp, smooth, etc.
4) If the above three things describe the switch, the last descriptive category describes the board itself: layout, style, aesthetics, color, etc. All of which can be usually "tuned" as well.
