[coatmatter]

> From a usability standpoint, the keys are so shallow that the tips of your fingers hurt after extended usage as if you've been pressing them into cement.

Only if you habit of striking the keys too hard, which I used to do as well. The only real solution at the moment for the end user is to either not buy the laptop, or adapt to a less vigorous typing style. Before my purchase of the 2016 13" nTB, I went to the store several times to ensure I could maintain the same speed as I do with Cherry MX Brown and Topre switches.

That said, I'm interested to see what the ThinkPad keyboards are like, because I don't much like any other laptop keyboard (including XPS or other older Apple keyboards).

I encourage you to learn to type more smoothly and "feel" for what force is actually required to trigger the clicks. It's worthwhile reaching a point where you don't have to fight it, and it's possible to still hit 100 to 110 wpm on the Butterfly 2 mechanism if that is your Cherry MX Brown speed.