Choosing a tenkeyless gaming keyboard: optical vs mechanical switches.

[Mila86]

I'm in the market for a new gaming keyboard, but I'm completely torn between the different switch types and features after trying a few in-store; I primarily play competitive FPS games but also need something comfortable for long typing sessions for work, so I'm looking for a balance of responsiveness and tactile feedback without being too loud. I'm leaning towards a tenkeyless design to save desk space, but I'm unsure if I'll miss the numpad, and the sheer number of brands boasting about latency and anti-ghosting is overwhelming. For serious gamers, what are the best gaming keyboards you've used that deliver on performance and build quality? How significant is the difference between optical and mechanical switches in real-world use, and are premium features like hot-swappable switches or extensive software customization worth the extra cost for someone who just wants a reliable, high-performance peripheral?