I think I'd spend extra for one of the original Henry Dreyfus design two-toned Royals like this one, with the tombstone-shape clear top keys. I think my folks had one of these when I was a kid; whether it was an Arrow or QDL, I can't say.

I have a QDL and Arrow from a couple of years later, with the more rounded design that lasted for the rest of the '50s. I wonder if the original Dreyfus design was a little too radical? Or maybe it was rather expensive to make? Seems expensive to only use the tooling for a couple of years.

Shift Freedom! (That would be a cool t-shirt motto, wouldn't it?)

And yes, TypewriterKing, that's one heck of a coincidence.