How are optional keys a nuisance? I find that using the patterns:

    if "optional_key" in my_dict:
        do_something_with(my_dict["optional_key"])

Or:

    optional_value = my_dict.get("optional_key")
    if optional_value:
        do_something_with(optional value)

Works as expected. Nested optional keys can be a bit annoying, although:

    my_dict.get("optional_parent", {}).get("optional_child")

seems to work.