Mini Panel - update ?

Hello all,
long time Element user, I'm about to jump ship and get a Mini Panel.

I just find it a bit too "deep".
I used to have a keyboard+wacom in front of the Element (because I switch regularly to other apps).
It looks like that won't work with the Mini.

On a scale of 0 to 10, what are the chances of BMD updating their panels anytime soon and shortening the Mini ?

i've sometimes used the wacom besides the mini panel

Wacom to the side seems mandatory yes.

Can you comfortably use the Mini panel with a keyboard in front of it ? (it's about 11.5cm / 4.5")

Wacom to the side seems mandatory yes.

Can you comfortably use the Mini panel with a keyboard in front of it ? (it's about 11.5cm / 4.5")

I would have to say No.
Constantly stretching past the keyboard to fiddle with balls and knobs vill make your arms tired.
Perhaps better with a mini-keyboard?

lost cause i think, the frame is also used for many other BMD products, so one design has to fit all...

btw, i'd keep the MF and BT, i've found them super useful to help sort the weakest links of the Mini

I'm a big fan of using a Macro keyboard to the right side for those functions not found on the panel. (Even the DaVinci Advanced Panel is missing a few things.) XKeys and the Elgato Streamdeck are fantastic for those extra little functions, and you can add quite a bit of customization that way.

lost cause i think, the frame is also used for many other BMD products, so one design has to fit all...

The Advanced, Mini and Micro panel all have different form factors, I don't see any reason with the Mini couldn't get a thinning treatment, or I am missing something ?

btw, i'd keep the MF and BT, i've found them super useful to help sort the weakest links of the Mini

Is that your setup ? Do the MF and BT retain their original mapping or do you have to remap them with Tangent Mapper or else ?

I'm a big fan of using a Macro keyboard to the right side for those functions not found on the panel. (Even the DaVinci Advanced Panel is missing a few things.) XKeys and the Elgato Streamdeck are fantastic for those extra little functions, and you can add quite a bit of customization that way.

Yes! I've read a lot of good recently about the Elgato, I'll give it a look.

Can you comfortably use the Mini panel with a keyboard in front of it ? (it's about 11.5cm / 4.5")

I would have to say No.
Constantly stretching past the keyboard to fiddle with balls and knobs vill make your arms tired.
Perhaps better with a mini-keyboard?

Thanks for the advice !
I guess I'll have to change my workspace a bit...