deskthority

Nope, literally impossible to remove the springs on the Model M using the toothpick method, guess I'll just have to live with it ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

There are a lot of factors besides the springs. I have never subscribed to the "looser tolerance/sloppy fit" viewpoint, but it may well be real. More importantly, the thin white latex mat in the Unicomps makes a significant difference over the thick black rubber ones used previously.
I think I'm ...

A Unicomp is absolutely a "real" Model M in every sense of the word. But there are sticklers who might try to argue that even a Lexmark is not some sort of "real" IBM Model M.

That said, Unicomps have always been known for feeling lighter and more pingy than earlier builds, and many people like ...

I've been using a real model M for a couple of days now, after coming from a Unicomp Ultra Classic I used for 2 years, and have noticed that the spring weight for the original Model M (1993 Lexmark in this case) feels 5-10g heavier than Unicomp's buckling springs. This is after a full cleaning of ...