Maybe the origin is the fact not everyone uses qwerty mappings. On a french keyboard, ~#{[|\\^@]} all require the "alt gr" modifier key which is usually just r

Maybe the origin is the fact not everyone uses qwerty mappings. On a french keyboard, ~#{[|\\^@]} all require the "alt gr" modifier key which is usually just right of the space key. So totally outside the realm of shift, caps lock, ctrl or alt.