@mwichary Nice overview of function key and modifier history with your post, but you lost me with trying to narrow down existing modifier keys in the end. There's too much legacy and muscle memory to them. As to perhaps explaining Apple's inconsistent history with keyboard design, I think it's because so much of it was emotionally driven as Steve Jobs apparently hated function keys and most likely was the largest champion for the Touch Bar when it was a thing. (see https://trev.com/2016/11/fing-keys/). We still see to this day Apple's desire to reduce key count with the removal of the Esc key on iPadOS keyboards, which I find frustrating.

Apple having an inconsistent specification for Fn and Globe keys is something I work with daily being a Logitech Slim Folio keyboard user. Appreciate you calling this out.

@kickingvegas As an example, if Apple wants to cater to the rare people who use Ctrl in Linux/terminal/etc. – allow them to do whatever they want with Globe, or remap from Caps Lock (both are already possible in stock macOS).

Removing the Ctrl key and relabeling Caps Lock to Caps Lock/Control and some nicer UI atop is a relatively easy step in my opinion. And for those with motor memory expectations – you can make Globe step in for Ctrl.