[mcdonje]

Pretty much nobody would use that on a standalone keyboard either. They had to know the design isn't practical for the stated purpose.

However, it does make a nice little trophy/trinket. It's merit based, so getting one could become a goal for contributors. It's branded. It fits on a desk.

If they made it twice as big and called it a trophy, it'd probably make more sense. But then costs would be higher and it'd be more formal.

[nerdponx]

Look up "artisan keycaps". Not only do people use them, they collect them, and certain specific rare and desirable artisan keycaps can be worth a lot of money. The high quality ones tend to be cast out of resin in small batches (sometimes literally just 1 in a given color/sculpt combination) and sold in short-duration raffles. People tend to put them on less-used keys.