My uncle handed me his 1987 IBM Model M and said 'this outlasted 4 of my jobs,' and I can't stop thinking about it
He was cleaning out his garage in Sacramento last month and almost tossed it in the donate pile until I asked if I could have it, and then he said that line about the 4 jobs and just kept wiping dust off the keys. It hit different because I've gone through maybe 5 boards in 3 years chasing the perfect sound, and this thing has been clacking along since before I was born with zero mods. Do you all actually keep a board long enough to wear the legends off, or is the chase half the point?
the chase half the point" is exactly the trap here. Chasing boards is just consumerism with extra steps, you're not a collector, you're a guy buying stuff and calling it a hobby. That uncle kept one board because he had real problems to deal with, four jobs is a lot of stress, and a keyboard that just works is one less thing to think about. Meanwhile you've burned through five boards in three years and somehow the guy with zero mods is the one you're jealous of. The chase feels like progress but it's really just you never being happy with what you already have.