I wonder how much of the benefit from using these alternate layouts is due solely to the layout, as opposed to some combination of the layout and better awareness of correct ergonomics, using stretching and warmup techniques, etc.
Hard to quantify of course. Would love to hear from anyone that switched to one of these layouts but didn't make any other changes in their wrist health otherwise.
Picked Dvorak up again about a year ago after getting one of those fancy ortholinear keyboards.
My qwerty was a quick 'undisciplined' hunt-and-peck. (e.g. typing the 'y' in 'your' with the left hand finger). Dvorak was trained with the 'discipline' of each finger being assigned to a column.
Qwerty feels somewhat disorganised and chaotic compared do Dvorak (even on the same keyboard). Dvorak feels more comfortable.
I use Dvorak on keyboards and QWERTY on touch screens.
I find QWERTY difficult to touch for all the obvious reasons but actually pretty good for 2 to 4 fingers typing on a iPhone / iPad. I have seen people typing faster than I do with only 4 fingers and their thumbs, usually with a machine gun style.
Dvorak is (great for | forcing you into) touch typing, except that right pinky overuse. It feels good but you don’t really have a choice.
My wife doesn’t touch type and is bent over the keyboard, looking down at the keys. Dvorak would not help her until she relaxes down on her chair, and type with more fingers and without looking.