i've just found out why IBM Model Ms hate water :( the water wicks inbetween the layers of plastic membrane, shorting out the conductive key-matrix traces. now that mine is *completely* taken apart and drying, hopefully it will recover...
"Customers loyal for nearly 20 years have gone on record as saying that they will never again purchase a Creative Labs product. Some enraged proprietors went as far as to purge their shelves of Creative Labs products still in stock."