The original keys are steel, the ones you get from a locksmith are brass. So yeah, I'd call that softer. Before I knew that I was using one made at a locksmith, thinking the original would wear down too far one day so I wanted to save it. Turns out the replacement wore out pretty quick so I'm back to the original which still works flawlessly.

Keep a brass one as a spare, but a replacement really needs to be steel. Shame nobody makes aftermarket ones, they could be a popular individual. Wish I had easy access to machine tools, I might do it myself.

-Rog