Do you have a programmable keyboard right now? If so you can put a 36 key keymap on it and try it out, or at least certain elements of one.
A big difference between a 5-col vs 6-col is that 5 will require homerow mods or some riff thereof. If you can put homerow mods on your current keyboard, even without changing anything else, and use them for a week or two to see if they agree with you, then you’ll know for sure whether the 5 col is the right choice. That’s what I did, then made a Fifi
Bumpers for Choc keycaps. Contribute to rschenk/choc-bumpers development by creating an account on GitHub.
I designed these bumpers for Choc keycaps, they do the same thing as o-rings on an MX switch (quiet the sound and cushion the bottom-out) but can be made from much thinner material.
I've laser cut several sets from silicone placemats (0.7mm thick) which I've daily driven on MBK, LDSA, and CFX caps, they sound and feel good! You could also use 0.5mm Poron or EVA like are used in switch pads, EPDM, neoprene, whatever.
They do not alter your switch travel but they do raise your keycaps by the thickness of whatever material you make them from.
I have two boards that I regularly swap between, one with red pros, and one with Sunsets. Stock, I found the Sunsets way too aggro, but I lubed them with 205g0, including the tactile bump, and that totally mellowed and smoothed them out. Now they feel goooood! So just something to keep in mind.