I have a ortho chiclet keyboard which I think is pretty nice, and miles ahead of any membrane keyboard. But 99% of the time I still end up using mechanical keyboards.
Ok, I guess this is as subjective as it gets, but don't you think that flat keyboard with small key depression and quick reaction time beats mechanical in terms of typing speed?
Old keyboards aren't flat intentionally. It's because the profile of the keys is designed to make them easier to type on (so your fingers have to move less distance to reach all the keys). If flat was better, keyboards would have just been flat from the beginning. It would make manufacturing easier, after all.
I really don't know which is meant to be quicker. But rarely when typing am I constrained by the length of travel or weight of the keys (within reason).
So it (almost) all comes down to what feels nicer.
2. They are often very well built
I have a ortho chiclet keyboard which I think is pretty nice, and miles ahead of any membrane keyboard. But 99% of the time I still end up using mechanical keyboards.