Cost considerations probably resulted in the minimalist keyboards used on earlier computers. But, with the QL, Uncle Clive went to the trouble of having specially designed key-tiles (maybe a “niece” did it for her portfolio). At first, the QL’s keyboard appears to be an improvement over the “chiclet” style keys used on the earlier SPECTRUMs and TS-2068s. Whatever expense was saved in the amount of materials used was not compensated by the expense of the custom “crater” design.
Since the ZX-88 appears to continue the tradition of peculiar keyboard design, one may conclude that either Sir Clive Sinclair isn’t worth a lick as a typist, or the keyboards are meant to be a Scotsman’s Revenge for being a subject of the Crown.
For a brief time (before apparently exiting the QL market) a West German company involved with QL peripherals (ABC-ELEKTRONIK) had finally sorted out their auxilliary keyboard by abandoning the original design (!!??) and providing an interface which “works” with any “standard” IBM-PC- or compatible-CLONE keyboard. It never officially made it to these shores, and the estimated price (my guess) for the interface will be in the range of $100. WEE-OH. You then add a PC-compatible keyboard (available ANYWHERE for between $40 and $200+, depending on brand and features). My understanding is that Jochen Merz has acquired the “rights” to ABC’s products (which included the mega-board); but, details remain scant.
While this may seem a bit extravagent, it is a better solution than the proprietary SCHO(e)N keyboard which had a price tag of close to $200! I was tempted to purchase one of these a couple of years ago until I found out that a subsequent replacement for the keyboard was NOT available should it wear out or be damaged! The only keyboards which I have ever seen that did not seem to wear-out were on pianos.