Khers wrote: Wow, you're quite an Alps man, E3E, I've not even seen most of the switches you mention in real life. Come to think of it, I've not even tried an actual SKCL switch, only linearized SKCMs. In fact the only Alps switches I've tried are SKCM Blue, White, Cream and Salmon. I liked the first one a lot, and whites are alright if they are old enough, but I didn't really fancy the tactile ones. The Creams got way better when I linearlized them by removing the tactile leaf.
I agree with you on finding the tactile ones the least inspiring though. For tactility, in my opinion, and based on my very small sample set, Topre has Alps solidly beaten (and every other tactile switch I've tried as well). 45g is the sweet spot for Topre if you ask me. I don't quite understand the 55g hype that's ongoing since a couple of years back – sure the 55s are less common (if still more common than a lot of other things in the keyboard world, which may explain the forte with which they are hyped), which may provide you with more bragging rights but in my opinion that is about it (erm, "Striped Ambers" seem to fit well into that picture). I, personally, see very little benefit from hunting something down for exclusivity alone and would rather have whatever I need to search long and hard for to add some tangible improvement on what I already got. That last part sort of explains why, after quite a short while, I got out of the Alps vortex. There are too many different varieties out there for me to stay interested (this may be completely contrary to most people), and from comments it seems that a less common switch is always better, which, of course, is highly improbable (if it was, it would be more wide spread among keyboards from the same era, which it obviously isn't as it's the less common switch), but very few people have them, so very few can contradict the statements and they have little benefit from it as it would decrease the value of their collections. All in all, I got a little sick of the Alps stuff.
With regards to your statements about your collection, they make mine seem small and well kept
though perhaps not as focused. I do understand the difficulties with selling stuff, as can be seen by the rather small subset filed under no longer in my possession. Selling stuff does leave room for new acquisitions, however, at least if you, as in my case, have a certain designated storage area and your wife gets angry when it's overflowing.
I turned to the Alps vortex half out of being too broke to let myself get obsessed with Cherry MX and the plethora of BUY THIS NOW (alternatively: sellmeyourkidneynow) plastered everywhere in relation to that switch variety. I think I jumped onto the Alps train around a year before they started becoming hyped up, driven by videos I had seen of the Kingsaver and falling in love with that sound and the different, exotic look of Alps switches compared to Cherry MX. The rectangular, wide look with its kissy lips sliders just get me.
I think mention of "exceptional smoothness" also intrigued me as well.
I started with a blue alps NTC 6151N, then an M0115 AEK with SKCM Orange and then the rest was history, I guess.
The unobtainium factor is a strong one, and I honestly think, like the placebo effect of someone being told they're drinking an expensive wine, knowing something is rare kind of wows the senses into exaggerating the quality of such unobtanium. Certainly, there are instances where something that is difficult to find is also quite nice, but I feel that it's mainly hype from the small minority, of which I admit to be part of at times.
Alps SKCM Limey Neon Lite Brite Green is truly my favorite Alps switch aesthetically, especially the pine variant with its vivid emerald color, but is it leaps and bounds above all others in terms of feel or quality? No, not really.
They feel amazing to -me- typing on them because of that mystique around them and the wow factor of rarity, but being objective, the pine variant is very similar to SKCM Brown, if not a little lighter, both pine and bamboo aren't as smooth, and the drag across the unique tactile leaf often makes a squeaky sound. So you could say that it replicates Topre well, flatulence and all.
SKCM Striped Ambers? They are pretty nice, they have a cushiony feel to them, but if you were so inclined, you could take click leaves out of SKCM Blues and you'd have the same thing.
And of course, SKCL Green and Yellow are both fine switches in their own right.
I think personal preference and subjectivity can be dangerous in accidentally sparking a runaway hypetrain. I mean, I still don't really enjoy Topre all that much even though it's built up to death, its premium no doubt helping to keep that perspective around it.
I LIKE Topre, but I don't love it. I sold my variable RF104 within a day of trying it. Every time I pull out my lubed Realforce 104UB-DK45S, which is factory-silenced, I find myself wanting to go back to Alps SKCM/SKCL or Alps Plate Spring in a short period of time. The only thing that impresses me is how quiet it is relative to other keyboards that use sliders that smack plastic on the upstroke. Aesthetically, I really enjoy its look and the build quality is great compared to other modern OEMs. The Ducky Realforce with its stark white caps and nice navy bluish grey case give me some monochrome nostalgia vibes that I really like.
Topre still very much intrigues me, but I would be hesitant to spend a lot on that switch/keyboard type.
I'm wanting to cool it myself with Alps. There are a few more boards I could fill my collection with, but even then, I feel less of a desire to seek them out as I'm pretty satisfied with what I have. I've got good amounts of either loose switches of every type (for my hot swap modded Alps customs) or vintage boards with various Alps varieties.
What I find myself wanting at the moment are some of the harder to find and more obscure Alps key caps like hi profile sphericals, mainly for aesthetics, but I think my MUST HAVE NOW days have cooled off substantially.
That's possibly why I'm a bit hesitant to even sell keyboards I have doubles or more of, because most of the time I have found them in lots, and well, I feel like I might ruin the balance of satisfaction if I sell them.
Good point though, Khers. It's always good to sell if it's going toward other buys. Having copies versus something new--it's always better to have something new! At least as long as it's equally exciting.
Yeah, my collection is VERY Alps-focused to the point where I would probably sound clumsy talking about other keyboards of the vintage era.
One last note I wanted to add: I think the rarity placebo also factors in inversely to some. For instance, I've always wanted to use dampened Alps sliders in, say, SKCM Brown, and SKCM Green, as I feel that it makes them quite Topre-like with the rubber dampeners.
However, I always back out of doing it because they're so common and unliked by most. See, that's a terrible mindset to have, haha. I'm making social castes out of my Alps switches.
, but even though cost saving measures were supposedly taken, I can't think they would influence too much. Otoh, my best model M is my square label 
. You've got some amazing boards though! 
