Note: This is just a render final product may differ in appearence, but all parts are the same!
Pros:
1. They are durable no leaf and the switch just blocks light
2. They are hot swap and not like kalih hot swap which can break
3. because you are dealing with light they can have faster response time, but I personally have not done a test to see if it makes a big difference
4. No chatter
5. Beginner friendly
6. No soldering
7. Less friction, so smoother.
Cons:
1. Not much PCB support for custom builds
2. Could be difficult to support multiple layout with a single PCB
3. Not very popular right now
Week 1 UpdateFirst of all, I would like to thank anyone who has taken the survey so far. There was 110 people that responded and here are the results: note: I didn't require every question to be answered
I would also like to clarify as I got a lot of questions about what is the point of this IC post. It has two purposes to make pcbs that will fit most standard layouts and also support QMK/Via, and the second purpose was to create more options of optical switches. The order of importance is to make the pcb first and then get it out to the community, then run the switch.
After talking around the community and getting feedback from the survey I decided to change my approach to the pcb layout chosen before I neglected attention for 60% because they already existed but after talking about it. It will be the first pcb I work to produce as it can be used almost universally and works with a lot of cases. Your data will not go in vain as I will use it to decided the next pcb layout I make after the 60% but we still need more feedback.
Week 2 updateThis week has been very exciting as we finally got our hands on the needed resources to finalize the pcb design. Also I have created a partnership with the Community member Leavenember and he did the pcb design. Along with finishing up the base design for the 60% pcb. We also started thinking about the future and how can we implement the pcb. I will list the ideas we came up with at the end of the post. The next major step is fine tuning the pcb design and getting it to work with QMK. I would also like to thank you all who supported the idea and who either shared the idea or took the survey both helped very much. Lastly, I would like to call on pcb and case designers to think about the future and what it could be, and if you are interested in implementing this idea I would love for you to join the discord and share ideas.
List of ideas to test:
1. Testing if we can use Step and unstepped keycaps on one pcb
How: Dremel a hole in to the bottom of the switch to allow for light to pass through and place the IR emitter and PT further apart
2. Support already existing and new top mount/gasket mount cases
How: using a foam in between the case and pcb to keep it in place but also removes pcb to plate rattle
We would love to hear your ideas and get feedback you can either post it here or on the Discord
Week 3 Update Part 1
This week's post is a little late the intention was to post pictures of the test pcbs after testing but there was some delays on the Manu side, so the pcb shipped later than expected. There should hopefully be an update soon. 
