Spoken like someone who clearly doesn’t work in finance.
The numpad is essential for my work. You’re not seeing it from the perspective of myself who uses it as a calculator with automatic text entry while producing documents and estimations. That is my job, and it requires the numpad/calculator layout.
I’ve been a CPA for a decade and don’t use a numpad, though I have to give credit to World of Warcraft for my ability to hit any number with ease. I’ve found you will be most efficient when you never have to leave home row with either hand, so learning to use a trackpoint also helps.
Thinking of your needs, it’d be cool if there were keyboards that could attach/detach. Like say you want something for gaming it can be 60% or TKL. But then you want a full keyboard for work. You would just be able to connect it together and boom, just works right away.
This exists!
The ASUS ROG Claymore II is an 80% “optical mechanical” with a detachable numpad. Mountain also makes several TKLs and an 60% (the Everest 60) with a detachable numpad. You could also make one using the KBDcraft Kit Adam and Kit Addams.
However, I agree with the others. I think you get the best build quality using a standalone mechanical numpad. If I was going to get a split design, I’d probably get an Ergodox or Keychron Q11 QMK or something similar.
