But since you're on KDE, and this integrates well, it seems preferrable.
I remember a similar experience like yours eons ago. Koversation sucked. KVirc didn't. Can't compare to now, because I won't touch contemporary KDE with a ten foot pole, but KVirc still doesn't suck, whereever I'm running it. OTOH Hexchat doesn't, either.
https://github.com/kvirc/KVIrc
https://www.kvirc.net/
...or anything else, really.
But since you're on KDE, and this integrates well, it seems preferrable.
I remember a similar experience like yours eons ago. Koversation sucked. KVirc didn't. Can't compare to now, because I won't touch contemporary KDE with a ten foot pole, but KVirc still doesn't suck, whereever I'm running it. OTOH Hexchat doesn't, either.
Have a look at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_IRC_clients test 'em, pick one.