Hm, for starters it is partially hype. I am telling you this as the proud owner of 3 HHKBs.

My first gripe is the ABS spacebar. I know, I know, PBT can warp in production, but companies have been doing it for years successfully and I think for the price HHKB absolutely should have included this. Secondly the USB hubs on the back are relatively useless unless plugging in a mouse.

That being said, of all the Topre keyboards, they are my favorite. Part of this is partially due to the fact that the switches are mounted to the plastic case, and that gives it the very distinct Topre HHKB sound. It is a glorious sound. Secondly, the layout is amazing. It takes a little time to get used to, but after that other layout all feel a little...lacking and less effective.

Topre in general is a good bet though. Don't expect to fall in love with the first keystroke, like often happens with Cherry MX switches, but give it time and I can almost promise that you'll love them. They are just so comfortable to type on, and feel so solid compared to other switch types.

I would also recommend strongly considering the Novatouch. Although the Realforce feel better out of the box due to being a little sturdier and having better keycaps, the feeling is still almost identical when typing, and the Novatouch allows you to use all of these great MX keycap sets you see. For me, having the flexibility to change up my keycaps is half the fun, and since it feels so similar to the Realforce it has essentially put my RF on the shelf for good.

If you think a TKL is needed for work, I'd strongly recommend the Novatouch. If you think the HHKB layout could suit you, I'd say go for it. It is pricey, but it is also something you'll get countless hours of use out of.