Why do so many people love heavier switches?

[evoman]

As for why I like heavier switches, I think I make fewer mistakes - something about needing to really commit to the key press seems to help. I have mostly been using a 45g Topre board in the last few weeks, but I still make fewer mistakes on my Model M. I have just gotten a bit addicted to the smooth feel of the Topre (since swapping keycaps).

That being said, I didn't get on with the 55g Topre since I felt like there was too much resistance throughout the range of movement, whereas buckling spring has a larger break after the activation point (spring snap) - without really analyzing the force curves, I imagine this means that the 55g Topre requires a much higher total force than the Model M switch, despite having a nominally lower activation force (so integration under the curve is higher for the Topre, which I didn't like - I like heavy, but only if the force curve has a bigger change after activation). Based on data, that seems to be the case:

photos-f62/the-problem-with-mechanical- ... 15133.html

[belowgeek]

As for why I like heavier switches, I think I make fewer mistakes - something about needing to really commit to the key press seems to help. I have mostly been using a 45g Topre board in the last few weeks, but I still make fewer mistakes on my Model M. I have just gotten a bit addicted to the smooth feel of the Topre (since swapping keycaps).

That being said, I didn't get on with the 55g Topre since I felt like there was too much resistance throughout the range of movement, whereas buckling spring has a larger break after the activation point (spring snap) - without really analyzing the force curves, I imagine this means that the 55g Topre requires a much higher total force than the Model M switch, despite having a nominally lower activation force (so integration under the curve is higher for the Topre, which I didn't like - I like heavy, but only if the force curve has a bigger change after activation). Based on data, that seems to be the case:

photos-f62/the-problem-with-mechanical- ... 15133.html

About that mistakes part, I don't think that heavier switches net you fewer mistaken keypresses. I've actually tried the new Cherry MX speed switches and although it took me quite a while, I was able to accurately use them without making unnecessary mistakes. I guess it boils down to muscle memory. But, you do make an interesting point since heavier switches would require more force to actuate.