As someone that into mech keyboard hobby, I can say that's still perceivable for average user as you still retain the familiar "qwerty" layout.

Look up stenograph keyboard. They have lesser keys but allows someone to write higher wpm and programmable though I don't think they would fit for average office workload (unless you types a lot).

With home row modifier keys you could get rid of yet abother row!

The control is right there, next to backspace

oh god help me..