Well I am glad to see we both have the same issue`s with the keyboard.
I have the keyboard myself here laying around for a review but it just doesnt work right.
After a reinstall of windows you need to download software and it automatically starting flashing.
It ends up in a bad flash in the end and keyboard is useless.
This happens every time you reinstall windows.
Service support is great and helped me out several times within a couple of days.
However since a keyboard should work straight out of the box without the need of a new flash and numerous mistypes as you said I am not impressed by the keyboard at all.
The other keyboard, the merc which I have laying around for a review aswell is briljant.
Cant see or find any flaw and works as a keyboard should.
The extra keys on the left side are briljant and any shooter guy should have such a keyboard.
I won a Steelseries Shift last year and tbh I didn't like it. If you are a hardcore gamer it has it's advantages but for everyday use it's not that good and the only thing I miss from it are the media keys.
Im looking at getting a new keyboard as well, I do not need a bunch of fancy crap, I prefer something totaly silent, I can not stand the click clack click clack of a keyboard, Silent but still with the feel of a click. I like that positive tactile feedback.
Game Over- Try the Razer Lycosa. I've had raze products or 2+ years and they are tip top in terms of quality. My sister bought me a Lycosa for my birthday. All I can say about this keyboard is wow. The keys are slim but responsive. Every key is back-lit (great for me, the lack of a back-lit keyboard is what has prevented me from gaming in total darkness. No extraneous keys that inhibit performance, with 100% macro capability. A USB and Headphone/Mic jack on the top of the keyboard is nice too. I've used the logitech and can say without a shadow of a doubt this is the keyboard for me. But do a little looking there are quite a few models that might meet your criteria in a keyboard. But do look up Razer, they've got some fantastic stuff.