>>106377866
In which case 108 is the next best bet. Like I said, option #2 would be a 108-key base with south facing RGB backlighting and QMK/VIA. I turn off the backlight except for the three of the four macro keys, assigning them to status LED's. Then the issue becomes finding three 1u R1 window keycaps like picrel, as well as one blank 1u R1 keycap since in my experience they're borderline impossible to find on Ali.

Another option would be windowed keycaps for Caps Lock, Num Lock and Scroll Lock, but there's like only two of those and they'll be inconsistent with every keycap set so I think the macro key route is the saner one.

I can only assume that there's no way in hell I'll be able to complete an entire set of base+switches+keycaps within this budget, and getting a pre-assembled keyboard, then trying to unfuck it with keycaps is wasteful, so let's say that the budget bracket for the whole DIY set is $190-300. What would be my options then? Also, are the Holy Pandas or whatever still the meme meta of tactile switches or is there something else worth looking into?