It looks like the feature is called Auto Shift in QMK/VIAL (I had to open up VIAL to remember the term).

I’m not sure I have a good answer for quick typing, I was in the process of implementing urob’s timeless homerow mods for ZMK when I fried my ZMK board. I know there are QMK implementations (maybe in userspace?), but my quick googling didn’t come up with what I was thinking.

Others have mentioned some of the boards on this list, but YAL should be pretty comprehensive list of boards with dpads

My first “weird” mechanical keyboard was an early Planck version (I was trying to learn steno and it was a fairly cheap NKRO option). I ended up getting rid of it as I had trouble adapting to the layout and layers. I didn’t end up pursuing steno very far, but it was a good learning experience.

My first ergo split was much more recent with the Ergo travel that I was able to find very cheap on mechmarket. I still had to build it, but it was a good learning experience and forced me to learn more about flashing firmware, soldering, and the details of keyboard construction.

I’m now using a Draculad wireless after really learning Colemak dhk on a 34 key dilemma, both of which I really love. I don’t think I would be as comfortable with firmware and switching to zmk for the Draculad if I hadn’t had the experience getting zmk to work.

I’ve been happy to experience many years of custom keyboards and the advancements in firmware over that time, and I think I’ve found an end game solution with zmk/Draculad

How do you like the pinky stagger? ( I think that’s what it’s called). I’m modding a 42 key board to have a similar layout (I find moving the pinky up forces me to move my whole hand)