this is a problem that a lot of people just don't notice because they are so used to a sub-optimal positioning of symbol keys/etc... When I built an ErgoDox and started using it full time a few years ago all the symbol keys moved (still not optimized in the default layout in my opinion), and that's when I finally realized it could be better. The ergodox (or any diy board with its own customization firmware) is cool cause you do all your remapping via firmware and it just looks like a normal old keyboard to the computer.

Here's my qwerty based ergodox layout; its still not great, but its miles better than normal symbol layouts on a std keyboard for me. I really only use layers 0 and 1. I need to add a layer 2 shift key and put arrow keys under the ikjl key positions, I just haven't done it yet. https://www.massdrop.com/configurator/ergodox?referer=MSCE5S.... I'm an osx user for the most part, hence the easy thumb access to the command/windows key for the left thumb.