Broken key socket on HP Omen 17 with optical keyboard

[TheBorg10]

Hi,

Interested if anyone else has ran into this issue.   We got a HP Omen 17t-cm200 with the optical / mechanical keyboard for my child for college.   After only 3 months one of the keys popped out.  After closer inspection it wasn't the key nor the hinge (which is what normally breaks) that broke, but one of the "hooks" where the hinge clips into. 

To my surprise, the socket that is attached to the pc board of the keyboard was made from plastic.  All the other laptop keyboards I've seen (including a Omen 15t) .. the "hooks" that the hinge clips into is metal, but in this case it was made out of plastic.

None the less, one of the four hooks broke off.

We contacted HP support, who informed us that although this isn't the "key" (hinge and key cap)  that broke, it isn't covered under the HP warranty and it would cost $460 to replace the entire keyboard?   That is a hard pill to swallow for a laptop that is 3-4 months old and something that surely seems like a manufacturing problem. 😞 

(laptop not dropped .. doesn't show any damage etc. etc. other than they key popped off because the retaining hook broke)

Since this is the first time I've seen plastic being used as part of the socket that holds the scissor hinge, I was wondering if anyone else experienced this with the new optical / mechanical keyboards?

Thanks!