Do people really type non-stop long enough to make any of the speed gains actually significant? Even when I was writing my dissertation I would rarely type more than a couple sentences at a time and even then I often had to back space because of a typo or something.
If you have some kind of RSI and it helps then it would make sense but at least for me it doesn't make sense for the way I type.
I had RSI issues crop up when I was writing my PhD thesis - a lot of hurried, last minute typing where typos be damned. I'm also mostly hunt and peck, so touch typing would have probably resolved most of my issues.
> If you have some kind of RSI and it helps then it would make sense
I think it makes way more sense to consider the risk and the odds of getting a RSI from qwerty vs. dvorak and take preventative action. You don't want to suffer a learning curve on the rehab side of an RSI, while also kicking yourself in the posterior for something that was avoidable.
I feel like more important and easier measures anyone can take to prevent RSI that doesn't involve learning a new keyboard layout are ergonomic: ensure you have a good chair/posture, use a wrist rest (these are debatable, but I couldn't type without one), and avoid taking your hands off the keyboard (don't use a mouse if possible).
I've been using QWERTY for decades now, and for years have used a ThinkPad keyboard with a TrackPoint instead of a mouse, use a mostly hotkey-driven workflow, and a wrist rest even on a laptop. Anecdotal, but I've rarely experienced strain and can type comfortably for hours.
I know QWERTY is demonstrably worse, but so far I haven't had the need to try another layout. The downsides of losing my current muscle memory, having to remap hotkeys and not being productive on other computers don't seem worth it to me.
My personal data on that is, I have been using all kinds of terrible desks, chairs, and keyboards before I got to a career point that I could buy nicer gear. I gotta credit Dvorak ahead of everything else.
If you have some kind of RSI and it helps then it would make sense but at least for me it doesn't make sense for the way I type.