I ended up getting a Niz Plum Nano 75 with stock 45g for $35 USD from a friend, since the price was too good to pass up. I’m rather amazed at the value - Bluetooth 4.0 with 3 profiles, Cherry profile PBT keycaps, mouse cursor control, 3-way cable routing, some programmability with software (however only 1 profile). The case and build quality aren’t too bad - doesn’t feel flimsy but there’s some warpage - hence the cloth to keep it flat on the desk
My friend also had a HHKB Pro 2 with stock 45g domes and another Niz Nano 75 modded with BKE 45g domes. It was nice trying them out to see what Topre as well as BKE were like. The stock Niz definitely felt less tactile than the other two. Between the HHKB and BKE Niz, it was harder to tell the difference. Overall, I can understand why Topre’s considered different from the typical MX tactile.
Will be using the Niz Nano 75 as my daily driver for the next week to see how the experience is like