Question: is the vulnerability in AOSP or GMS? If the former, then you're correct. If the latter, then Google could patch it.

No one reasonable would argue that gaming peripheral companies haven't done a lot to make mechanical keyboards much more mainstream than they ever were when it was just Ducky, Filco, etc.

(And yes, I'm quite aware of the scene. I own a Realforce HiPro, a Unicomp, an IBM 6850 beamspring, a Matias Tactile Mini, a MAX Blackbird, and a Poker II with the Granite keyset. My point is simply that the market for mechs is bigger than it's been in ages, thanks to Razer, Corsair, CM, etc.)

Perhaps I'm misundertanding, but most people don't consider scissor switches to be the same as a mechanical keyboard. You still have a rubber-dome membrane underneath the switch. (Then again, most people consider Topre mechanical, even though that's just a plunger over a rubber dome over a spring. Who cares. Use the keyboard you like.)

I think the last thing we need is elitism in an already niche group. Aesthetics aside, those are all mechanical keyboards. And the scene probably owes gaming a lot, considering gaming peripheral companies have been leading the charge in terms of introducing new mechanical keyboards to the market.

Just personal preference. Contrary to what many say, not everyone in the world is going to prefer a mechanical keyboard over a rubber-dome one. Use the keyboard you like, not the one that everyone else likes. (And I say this as someone who has six mechanical keyboards and is currently using one on his rMBP to type this comment.)

Topre master race.

I got it as part of their Cyber Monday sale for $100, so if you can wait, you might be able to save on it (but you may have to wait almost a year...). Mine has red switches, so they feel nothing like a Model M (which I'm typing on right now). The closest you'll get are blues, unless you go with their custom keyboard option and choose greens (which will cost extra). IMO, greens are better than blues in terms of feel, and they require more force to actuate. They're still fairly different from buckling springs, but most people like them a lot.

(And yes, the backlight shines through the keys.)

I've used several keyboards with blues. I currently have a Poker II, but I've also used/owned a Das (model 3), Razer BWU (older model that actually had blues, not the Razer greens), Razer Orbweaver, and I even have a few spare blue switches lying around. The bump is very noticeable if you slowly depress the switch, but as soon as I start typing on them, they just feel muddy and unremarkable.

Clear switches definitely require more force, as do greens.

I have to disagree. Blues are my least-favorite switch by Cherry. I find the click to be both anemic and irritatingly high-pitched, while the "bump" is almost nonexistent at typing speeds. It feels more like a gummed-up linear switch than a tactile one. Greens are a bit better, as are clears. Reds are my favorite, by far. And don't get me started on Cherry-style stabilizers. (I really wish Costar was more common.)

Honestly, I find Cherry to be a poor choice for mechanical keyboard switch. I would much rather use buckling spring, ALPS, or Topre. Now that Matias is coming out with linear ALPS, the argument for reds will likely go away, as well. Reports I've read indicate the Matias switches are smoother and quieter than reds, which is very welcome.

The only reason I ever recommend Cherry-based boards is for aesthetics. Those boards plain look nicer, and there's a big scene for aftermarket keycaps with all sorts of colors, shape/profile, materials, etc. that you won't find for the others I mentioned.

I have a Max Keyboard Blackbird. I got it primarily because it has doubleshot keys, but the backlighting looks nice, and it actually serves a purpose. The keyboard has a timer function. When the timer goes off, the lights flash like crazy. At first, I thought it was a completely useless gimmick, but I find myself using it multiple times per day. It's quicker than using my phone, and much less obtrusive than a noisy alarm.

Unicomp says they have a steel plate. Odds are your plate isn't as thick as the one in the IBM, especially if it's a gray/silver label.

Typing on a Unicomp right now. It doesn't have the same level of fit & finish of other boards, but typing on it is a dream.

Now, I'm not saying to ignore the marketing that mechanical keyboards are better (I own six, myself...it's a weird hobby); I'm saying that the notion that certain switches are for gaming, while others are for typing, is pretty much bunk. MX Blacks are often described as "gaming" switches, but they came out in the mid-1980s. I've gamed on blues, and I've typed on reds. I've even gamed on an ancient IBM beamspring keyboard (precursor to buckling spring found in the Model F and Model M keyboards) and a few Topre boards. Any switch will be fine for any role. I think even hardcore gaming companies like Razer understands this, because they don't offer a keyboard with a linear switch.

"Plaintiffs didn't suffer damages" is a laughable reason?

I've been using Firefox for the past six months or so because I don't like Chrome, but Chrome still has the technology edge in several cases. This looks to be bridging at least some of that gap. It would have been better if it happened three years ago, but late is better than never.