My beginner ergo keyboard was the original Hotdox. I bought 2 (one for work and one for home), used them for years. Cheap. Reliable. QMk. No regrets.
I regret buying/building my really nice metal Wireless Ergodox because I simply don't use it. The idea was it would be convenient for returning to the office now that nobody has a permanent desk anymore. However I'm still wfh and now using a dactyl manuform with a built-in trackball and half as many keys (so I can't go back lol).