X keys have just as many, if not more possible layers as the N52. I have tried out tons of hardware and I found the N52 clunky and the buttons to be too firm. Yes, there are shift layers but witht he Xkeys, any key can be a shift layer. Toggle or press on off. Plus, with the advent of the 2.2 patch, you now have 6 extra toggle layers (for a total of 7) because they separated left shift, alt and control from right.

If you REALLY want something ideal, you need to skip the Xkeys pro and simply build your own keyboard to fit YOUR hand. Not that this is easy or inexpensive but keep in mind that I bought a few N52s for $25 each maybe 3 years ago. They as cheap as you get and you get what you pay for. That said though, I usually use the main xkeys "desktop" part of my pro as my "home" position and then when I need to, I use the top and left/right keys for less critical tasks. I obviously mapped less frequently used keys there. All of my heals are on the far right (where my index finger rests) and my damage spells are in the middle of the "x keys desktop", with utility spells to the far left and individual control of my "drones" at the top. To be clear, I use a Pro and I find it adequate for the majority of tasks.

One step below a fully customized keyboard though. It would be nice if it was less "flat" and conformed more to my hand. If I get back into WoW, I will consider using advanced tech to create a custom XKeys. Scan in my hand, build rapid prototypes and then "print" out a final ABS plastic shell, designed specifically for my hand. It's a good thing that I happen to be working to build a company that will be buying and using said prototyping equipment