Thank-you for this info!
The other review on that same AliExpress page that you posted the LICHIX Purple Bamboo photos on said that the Purple Bamboo was a favourite stock tactile for that person.
So you are not alone in noticing the superior construction of the Purple Bamboo.
I tried them as individual switches, and a few in hotswap. They didn’t make any horrible noises, so you are right about them avoiding ringing. They didn’t make any especially good sound either, just plastic moving parts, so I think maybe they should be lubed if used in a build.
They seemed like 10-20% lighter Durock Medium Tactiles in terms of feel, but I understand that they are constructed differently. Your photos show very thick boxy stems, and a somewhat elongated light-tactile bump. [I guess the elongation is mostly linear, I’ll have to try it again.]
My impression of the Molly was that the bump was satisfying. But, as others have noted, the factory lubrication is inconsistent. It would need hand-lubing or a more consistent factory-lube to truly shine. The tactility is about Zealio V1R level (with the old Zeal linear leaf).
The KTT Macaron Orange was disappointing for me. Although I purchased samples with an early-bird discount for like $17 CAD, which is cheap, they just aren’t fun to type on. The spring is long, which can be harsh for light-tactiles. And the bottom-out is similarly harsh. Did your stem measurements indicate that is it long-pole? The manufacturer was unclear.
You are right that good switches come from unexpected places. The KTT Mallo was interesting, even though KTT was not known for light-tactiles. Same for the AKKO POM Browns. For me, the best switches I tried in Q4 2023 were surprises. Gateron G Pro Brown 3.0 was actually decent. A definite but small-sized bump, crisp and not grainy. Factory lube is inconsistent, but what can you expect at near-JWICK prices? The weight on G Pro Brown 3.0 is also good, as is stability. It received no hype or fanfare, coming from a Gateron budget line, but seems to be a minor revolution in affordable light-tactiles.
The other big surprise was TTC Gold Brown Pro. I did not like any previous TTC Brown, but these are way better. TTC used new materials for greater smoothness. Anyway, they are poppy Browns and don’t sound too scratchy. Smooth and definite, with strong upstroke. They are a bit loud, though. So, for me, the best new light-tactiles came from new lines from mass-manufacturers with mixed reptuations. [People also like Gateron Beer, but it too has inconsistent factory lube.]
And yes, I tried KTT Matcha in the past, and they recently sold at $40 CAD for 100. But I agree that some of them do ring, even though they are smooth. So they need lubing, which I didn’t want to do.
All of my higher-end builds are light-tactiles. I only use other switches in cheaper, experimental builds.
