This seems pretty nice if you spend 100% of your computer time in a shell. For typical usage, swapping out F keys with a modifier seems like a downgrade unless you're short on space, and macros seems sorta like a workaround to address absent keys that unexpectedly become important. Also sorta unclear whether delete will go backwards or forwards, and in any case how do you delete in the other direction? (the backtick/tilde positioning seems odd at a glance but it makes sense when I think about it.)
I've definitely considered going with a more tuned layout such as this but I feel like it would just make things harder in general, with little to show for it apart from an increase in raw APM. Escape being where it is makes sense, but it's not like I find myself needing to immediately depress it to switch modes. "Escape Classic" takes a moment to reach and depress, but those moments coincide with some sort of context switch that your brain probably also needs a moment to adjust to, so it works itself out.
Much how I imagine (probably incorrectly) switching to Dvorak might make other keyboards feel alien, the rearranged keys would be a hindrance unless I carry a keyboard with me everywhere and insist on using it. It's jarring enough switching from one laptop keyboard to another, and the differences there are typically minimal.
My F-key usage is extremely low, and so layering them is no big deal. On average I think I might use layered F-keys a single-digit number of times per year. This probably has to do with the platform of choice (macOS, which favors mnemonic shortcuts over F-keys) as well as the software one uses on a day-to-day basis.
I basically never use the F keys as F keys: when I am using an Apple keyboard they default to media keys and similar stuff, which I do use. On my new keyboard I have bound (for example) fn+plus and fn+minus to adjust the volume - plus and minus are directly under the volume keys on my laptop.
The delete key deletes left when pressed by itself, or right when pressed with fn, same as Apple keyboards. Or use ctrl-d, which works in bash and emacs and all over macOS.
I have configured the macro keys to move windows to predetermined places, which is something I need far more frequently than the 39 extra keys on a full-sized keyboard.
I've definitely considered going with a more tuned layout such as this but I feel like it would just make things harder in general, with little to show for it apart from an increase in raw APM. Escape being where it is makes sense, but it's not like I find myself needing to immediately depress it to switch modes. "Escape Classic" takes a moment to reach and depress, but those moments coincide with some sort of context switch that your brain probably also needs a moment to adjust to, so it works itself out.
Much how I imagine (probably incorrectly) switching to Dvorak might make other keyboards feel alien, the rearranged keys would be a hindrance unless I carry a keyboard with me everywhere and insist on using it. It's jarring enough switching from one laptop keyboard to another, and the differences there are typically minimal.