Other split options: https://raymii.org/s/articles/Split_keyboards_a_five_year_re...
Part of this is my weird typing style (I occasionally cross fingers over to the other side of the board to type certain words at certain times - you can't do this on a split board), and part of this are function keys and enter being placed right around the spacebar area, in a zone where you normally can just depress your thumb and not have to think about the positioning too much.
Adapting to the layout was frustrating. It took me a week of standard use to not have typos. About a month to lock down the location of modifier keys and layer layouts.
Was it worth it? In my case, absolutely. The pain in my forearms disappeared. I also type "properly" on standard staggered keyboards now.
It turns out that in my case, the weird typing style was part of why I was feeling pain in my forearms in the first place.
i recently got one, and been wondering if i should place them full shoulder width apart or not.