> What benefits they see comes from learning how to properly touch type by forcefully breaking bad habits with their original (usually QWERTY) keyboard layout.

> What benefits they see comes from learning how to properly touch type by forcefully breaking bad habits with their original (usually QWERTY) keyboard layout. With that I fully agree, but then again - in my mind that exactly is the value proposition of any non-QWERTY-layout. I also agree that ergonomics is more important than peek throughput. But you neglect the cost. The cost of ruining shortcuts in many applications and/or complex OS settings just to be able to type. There are workarounds and solutions for most but I haven't been convinced it is a net gain. So in my opinion, stay and invest in QWERTY instead. Regarding ergonomics use a split ortholinear keyboard. I am in doubt any layout will be as liberating as that and orders of magnitude less investment in time. Everytime I use or think of a staggered keyboard I'm amazed at the design. Put your right hand over the right hand of the keyboard as if to type, the columns kind of naturally go with your fingers - not bad at all really. Then do the same with your left hand and it is just a clusterfuck. Though I do have to acknowledge two things, you can of course use and benefit from an alternative layout on an ortholinear keyboard as well. And the cost of only feeling at home on a bespoke keyboard (not that it is different enough for you to not be able to use a normal keyboard) isn't negligible depending on your situation either.