And I'm typing this on a fully custom, hand soldered, hand lubed, modded Maja V2 from KBDFans and MT3 keycaps from Drop. Easily costs more than all those boards in that post combined. And let's just say this is not my only keyboard.

It’s a neat hobby!

Honestly, all you really need is to lube the switches. That’s biggest benefit. A lubed mechanical switch, even the cheapest generic red, out performs anything off the shelf.

Totally agree. You can take a basic mechanical keyboard from Amazon with hot swap switches, lube them. Maybe do a basic tape mod (just put masking tape on the back of the PCB) and get like 85% of the benefit of a high end keyboard. This is what I've done for the rest of my family's keyboards.

I presume you use the blue painters masking tape? Normal masking tape tends to turn into either horrible goo or powder.

What does the tape mod do?

Improves the sound, basically.

Gasket mount was the biggest difference to me outside of the initial mechanical switch.

Now I have a number of mechanicals (i love, or did..) that I side-eye as they don't have that hearty damp at the end. :/

(i consistently work at 3 desks, only have gasket on one)

> It’s a neat hobby!

The same can be said about heroin.

I tried all the profiles that existed up to 2021 or so, and MT3 is really the best keycap profile;

You can't just say that and not post build pics of keyboard. :D

(A couple of Das Keyboards here and only one is even modified, but let's say I'm mechanical-curious. :P )

https://photos.app.goo.gl/xesqNgwBmZcrss6P6 I should do some better glamour shots to do it justice :)

I love this. I've spent countless hours and hundreds of dollars pursuing an "Ortholinear Ms Natural 4000 with Cherry MX Blues". Custom laser cut outs. Hand wire wrapped. Custom firmware.

It was tons of fun. But at the end of the day, I keep coming back to my Ergodox. I'm just so used to it now after all these years I don't think I could give it up.