[Maxburn]

I guess if you value your time far less than money you can save a couple bucks on cheap keyboards? I guess they now have a cherry brown based keyboard and can experience the different between that and awful membrane boards. Personally I think a little extra money is worth it for a keyboard that lasts years instead of dumping a membrane board in the landfill like OP apparently does.

[antiterra]

OP got the membrane board from a dumpster, it was already headed for the landfill. Not sure how that deserves any shame?

[Maxburn]

It's not shame, but IMO if you value your time very little than sure dumpster diving can pay off.

[alyandon]

I've been moderately happy with Tecware Phantom series keyboards. Per-key RGB, socketed switches, etc for $40-$50 USD.

I'll never go back to membrane keyboards.

[Maxburn]

They are totally worth it. The cost is almost secondary to me, it's an excellent typing experience and it reduces reparative stress injury.

I have a rosewill that is made from cherry brown switches and apparently the minimum electronics to make it work reliably unlike the low end one OP wound up with. Probably cost me $80 six years ago but it works the same as it was new, and I expect to get a decade out of it no problem.