I hoarded mechanical keyboards for years and years (and adapters to use these AT-connector and ADP devices with then-modern machines), and always wondered why people put up with the terrible membrane keyboards of the 90s and aughts. The answer then as now was always the same - the keyboard market is driven by price, and people wanted cheap keyboards.

Today, we all know that wasn't the case, as (often pricy) mechanical keyboards are (thankfully) back in vogue.

It was just lack of availability the whole time.

(Yes, my purchasing decisions are very keyboard-driven.)