basically his biggest gripe is the noise.

While i can understand that point of his arguement, but there are solutions to that problem if the noise is that troubling.

Firstly, stay away from buckling spring mechanical keyboards like the classic ibms, which are probably the most noisiest.

even the modern day popular cherry mx, are noisy too to some extent. Though there is a difference in sound between the clicky and non clicky types which you can distinctly tell apart.

Personally i'm not a fan of clicky, because it feels too much like a type writer sound to me XD.

And you would had thought non clickys would not make a sound, but actually it does, especially if you bottom them out, rather than type lightly.

But if you fit the rubber o rings, it dampens the sounds somewhat. But if that doesn't do the trick (like it didn't for that article's author), there is the Topre capacitive/mechanical keyboard alternative which is the quietest mech keyboard available. But that costs a bomb and that particular keyboard does not come with fancy macros, and led lighting if your into that sort of extras.

While i can see his point of view in regards to the sound (though it doesn't bother me much probably because i'm use to it), but he clearly misses the point that it's the actuation feel and reliability which what makes the mech keyboards greater than your generic rubberdome keyboard. So his article totally does not even take that important fact into account x_x;

bottomline, i still believe other computer components should take a higher priority when upgrading your pc rig e.g. cpu, motherboard, monitor, ssd, ram ... basically things that has high impact on your pc performance and experience; that said ....i strongly believe that a mechanical keyboard is now something on par with the need to purchase a performance gaming mouse meaning something you just should also get especially if you're the type of person who types a lot at the pc, or/as well as takes gaming seriously. Having used a mech keyboard for a long while now, it has made typing so much more comfortable on my hands, and helped relieved my typing fatigue. This too i attribute to my Logitech MX700 mouse, as well as leather palm rest.
PS: while most people don't buy a mech keyboard for the noise, for a clicky mech kb, this may actually be part of the reason/consideration for their purchase. Because the clicky sound to hint that a key had been actuated, is actually a keypoint for getting a clicky mech (e.g. cherry mx blue) keyboard. Only non clickys e.g. cherry mx brown rely only on the tactile feedback for confirming key actuations. As for ibm buckling spring keyboards, i doubt most people get it for the sound it makes, not unless you are one of those obnoxious types that like to annoy others el ol el