Well there are a couple stand-alone knobs that are pretty big - like the entire device is just a rotary encoder with a big aluminum cylinder around it.
Haven’t even heard of it yet - but I bet you’re right. Since Creams did the Oops, All POM! flavor, there’s been ever-increasing experimentation with plastics in the space. It’s been trendy to bring-in this or that low-friction plastic that hasn’t yet been squeezed into an MX mold.
Honestly I’m all for it - switches have gotten significantly better in the past few years and I wouldn’t mind one bit to see that continue.
My turn!
At some point someone is going to come out with silenced stabs. Not sure how, not sure when, but the market is ripe for it - overdue, even. @Walkerstop has done a number of pioneering experiments in this realm, and if any given manufacturer were to study his videos on the subject, they’d have all they need to get started.