There are times where mechanical keyboard just doesn't fit. I own a few at home, but in my super quite office, it's a different story, and Apple Keyboard is the least painful alternative after trying many non-mech keyboards, including arguably-mechanical HHKB Pro 2 and MS Ergo 4000.

Mechanical keyboards are nice if that's all you're ever going to use. But I spend 1/3 my time on a MacBook Air, and my fingers really appreciate the consistency of feel between it and my desktop keyboard.

Has anyone made a mechanical keyboard with short travel distance?

Yes, mechanical keyboards are superior. And the previous Apple ones were good.

But given the form factor limitation, the Apple ones are pretty good (better than the previous notebook keyboards, I don't know the name of the keyboard types)