I bought an Ergodox EZ a few years ago. While I enjoyed it at first, I realized that I was avoiding certain workflows because it lacked arrow and function keys, forcing you to rely on different layers.
I like split keyboards, and I also like thumb clusters, but I’d really prefer something with dedicated arrow and function keys.
Update for future googlers:
I ended up buying the Kinesis Freestyle 2 with the extra wrist rests. It’s not mechanical but I couldn’t justify the extra cost for both an ergonomic and mechanical keyboard.
I have the freestyle edge rgb one, with a separate section on the left with programmable keys. Also, programmable lights and colors and animations, and also macro functions and stuff.
The layout has a few flaws, and the actual ergonomics are inferior to my old Microsoft ergo keyboard from the 90s, even with the lift kit… But, mechanical keys and fully split, with wrist rests and macros and strobing gay lights!
I have a backup Microsoft ergo I saw for ten bucks at a thrift store years ago, just in case, though, still new and sealed. Membrane keyboards are not all built the same, good ones have smooth action. Dell keyboards have gummy shitty action and the keys themselves are terrible.
Someday I’ll have a 3d printer so I can just make my own designs and it’ll be awesome.