On November of 2020, I've bought myself a Kinesis Gaming Edge RGB keyboard lightly used from eBay for about $120. The keyboard switches used are Cherry MX Brown, but other keyswitches are available (MX Red, MX Blue). I added an additional tilt kit accessory that was lightly used for about $25 on Amazon. The Edge replaced my Logitech G710+ Cherry MX Brown Mechanical Keyboard that I used for about three years. I did not have any health issues with my wrists, but I wanted to use a split keyboard as an ergonomic and comfortable alternative to most mechanical keyboards. I'd be willing to pay more if the features are worthwhile.
Ulnar deviation is mostly solved with the split keyboard, but tilting the halves is what helps significantly by reducing forearm pronation. Separating the keyboard halves allow for a variety of angles, and I can even have a Wacom tablet between the split keyboard for comfortable drawing.
Staggered key layout isn't good for a split keyboard longterm; lots of mistypes from pressing "G" instead of "B" due to awkward reach of index finger. An ortholinear layout seems better for me in the long term.
Wrist rests are removable, but I've kept them on as I found them comfortable to use. They might be replaceable thanks to the velcro on the back. Custom wrist rests are also a possibility, but I haven't seen anyone make DIY wrist rests for the keyboard.
I have almost never used the game keys on the left hand side. The only keys pressed were the "FN" and the LED toggle key. They are too far for me to touch type. Accumulated dust, too.
The keyboard is driverless, so it will work under Linux. However, the software for customizing the keys, macros, and the RGB lighting works only on Windows and Mac. The software itself is fine to customize, and the macro potential is great. I however, did not care for any of it because I didn't really use them often. Perhaps the overwhelming amount of keys and the traditional layout kept me from experimenting with the keyboard's software features. I'm not fond of RGB lighting, either.
Cherry MX Brown is not good for me while gaming. It's feels mushy, with a key press that feels too deep for me to use. The tactility is also too light for me to notice. The keyswitches are soldered, so they cannot be replaced with something better. Perhaps a better alternative might be the Kailh Speed Copper, or the Holy Panda and its derivatives. MX Brown is still okay for typing essays, although it's best to find something better from other sellers.
Custom keycaps might seem fine at first, but will likely get worse due to cheap ABS production. The space bars have a custom size that's difficult or even impossible to buy. Same with Right Shift, Right Ctrl, and the Alt keys. No way to get replacement keycaps for the keyboard if it ever wears out. Only a rubber WASD set available. There might be blank, sculpted keycaps with a similar size available, but I'm not a fan of blank keycaps.
A strange quirk that I've found while using it is whenever I turn the computer off, and I accidentally press a key, the lighting turns itself back on and cannot be turned off. It might be a bug, but I haven't done further research. Speaking of lighting, my dream keyboard will have no RGB lighting at all. Sure, it looks cool, and might be a useful indicator for whatever I want through some custom tweaking, but I personally would rather turn it off completely. It saves time, and maybe even money.
The Kinesis Gaming Freestyle Edge RGB is still a great entry point into the rabbit hole of split keyboards - even if my personal issues motivated me to get something better. It's certainly a better experience compared to the Logitech G710+ keyboard. If you are buying one, consider getting the Freestyle Pro if you don't need RGB or if you're not into gaming. I have sold the Kinesis keyboard, and I replaced it with an Ergodox-EZ in June 2021. As of December 2022, I have been happy with it, although it's not perfect.
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