Fyi the lily 58 has space for the number row at the top. You can also build a number pad that sits between the halves. It’s all wireless and still takes less room than a standard layout.
But anyway, you choose the layout that works for you. That’s the whole point of ergo mech keyboards. Lots of great open source software exists to choose and build exactly what you want with no compromises.
Switch testers are quite nice even if they don’t have the exact switch you want. It’s a lot easier to figure out what the numbers and descriptions mean if you have a comparison point. The switches I ended up with were not in any tester, but the testers were still super helpful.
As for layout, it’s worth being open to the smaller things like CRKBD or Lily58, your brain is better at adapting than you may think. These layouts save desk space, are significantly cheaper, and are quite nice to use. The savings add up especially quick if you are trying out different kinds of keys.
If you have access to a 3d printer, try looking for a tenting case on Printables or Thingiverse. The CRKBD printed case I downloaded was pretty good. Plus I was able to modify the design over time to suit my needs. My current iteration is over a year old and I love it.