I just stumbled upon what looks like an ideal solution to my original problems.
The Bastron transparent glass keyboard: www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhKOPTg9rm0
This beautiful looking blue LED lit combination keyboard/mouse with see through CORDED glass keyboard
sounds like it solves the problems.
No Wifi, no RF, no batteries, no fuzz addled roller ball.
This goes onto the top of my my want list. :)