Here's a way to mind**** someone. Tell them to look at you in the eyes, and they aren't allowed to look away / break eye contact. Then ask them what they had for lunch yesterday
From my experience, keyboards are a bad substitute and nothing can beat the feel of a proper piano. If you ever get to play on a Bosendorfer, my god, I probably wouldn't have stopped if I had a Bosendorfer
Learn the electric guitar
you can get a good one for the same price as a keyboard
I'd only learn the electric guitar if you can play songs that you like on it though, i.e. you listen to rock etc.