I think the one big reason to use one that is missing, is that they are reliable as hell. The texture and the feel of it doesn't go away, not nearly as quickly as the membrane ones.<p>The $20 one I've been using has been with me since 2007. It's a TVSE Gold. The one I had with my 386 lasted me around 11 years. It's the lack of the connector that forced me to go PS2. Probably replaced 4-5 keyboards in those 4-5 years.