Weekly mechanical keyboards discussion thread - Any updates to share, questions to ask?

How did you commit to your first ergo?

There are too many (mostly very expensive) options, and I've reached decision paralysis.

I've been typing on a mech for over 10 years and lust after the concept, but can't get past the perceived risk of buying something I won't use.

You could make your own and reduce the cost significantly. Obviously this is more involved than just buying a finished product.
I made my own over 5 years ago and am still using it daily.
Before buying something new try to look up on secondhand marketplaces/craigslist.
I've snatched an Ergodox Ez with wristrests for a bit over 100 bucks because the previous owner could not get used to it :P
If "staggered layout" but split qualifies, then the Keychron Q11 is definitely a good option.
I got it on sale, half the price, so it was very good, but even full price it might be worth considering
https://www.keychron.com/products/keychron-q11-qmk-custom-mechanical-keyboard

I'm no keyboard enthusiast, only had 1, so I haven't really felt what's out there.

My keyboard recently broke, so I bought a "wooting". I had never heard of this brand, but I bought it since it's the only one I saw that fit all the criteria:

Spanish layout
Big chonky ENTER key
100% size
Backlit keys
Silent keys

The silent keys part were a disappointment, it is way louder than the previous one (had cherry MX silent keys). However, the rest is pretty nice.

It has detachable USB cable. You can choose if the cable exits from left, right or center. And the feel is pretty good.

I don't care about the analog keys. And I guess this is part of the reason of it being kinda pricey.

The wrist rest I like, even though you have to buy it separately, it feels good and is silicone. So not too hard, and it doesn't change shape under the weight of the wrist. I wish it could be physically attached to the keyboard though.

It seems to be a European brand too, which is a big plus.

Anyone else got a keyboard from this brand?

EDIT: I almost forgot. It comes with some extra key switches. And I believe they are solderless-swappable. Which is kinda nice, since the last keyboard I had to replace just because of 2-3 broken keys.

The silent keys part were a disappointment, it is way louder than the previous one (had cherry MX silent keys). However, the rest is pretty nice.
Did you try O-rings? They dampen the sound of the keycap hitting the base of the keyboard.
https://www.gloriousgaming.com/en-eu/products/glorious-mx-o-ring-switch-dampeners
Maybe it won't matter with those switches, but they also helped with the switch actuation of my MX Blues. I noticed some high-pitch sound from the springs, and that also got dampened.
Unfortunately I don't have an answer for your request, but if you speak Spanish, feel free to join !esp@chachara.club
- Don't worry. I already bought the keyboard and I like it. I'm just curious if more ppl know of this brand.

Looking to get an entry level kb, what should I take into consideration besides switch type, size, and aesthetic?

Connectivity, firmware, mounting method (e.g. tray, gasket, etc.), weight (more is usually better unless you'll be moving it around), and if you want to try to avoid a rabbit hole, included keycaps; the look would count under aesthetic, but people can have very strong opinions about the profile (aka the shape).
- Dammit, that seems like the rabbit hole right there 😂
  What needs to be taken into consideration for firmware?

I'm going to be cramming a Pi Zero, a battery pack, a DIY custom keyboard, and a 9" touchscreen into some sort of 3D printed enclosure to make a "Writer Deck" built around the Wordgrinder low-distraction word processor. I'd like to keep the keyboard part somewhat integrated into the design and maybe around the footprint of a 60%, but what would y'all suggest as a good layout optimized for writing prose rather than code?

Most of my favorite personal builds are variations on an FRL 1800 (here's an example of a much nicer one than I make), but I can make any layout that's physically practical and able to use normal keycaps.