ALT key seems to be hard coded to the windows menu drop downs, which are some the keys I'd like to use most as a right handed drawer (left hand on keyboard). alt f, alt e, alt s, alt r, alt t, alt n, alt w are prime real estate but unusable for anything but opening those menus.

Any chance of making them available as editable shortcuts the shortcut editor?

Well, sure. This is a not something application specific, but both Windows and Linux Desktops reserve alt-something for desktop functions.

Found a simple workaround if anyone else doesn't like Windows overriding the Alt key - just hide Menus using Krita's Canvas only mode. When the menus are hidden, Window's Alt-menu shortcuts aren't triggered and Alt can be used for Krita shortcuts.

Go to 'Configure Krita' in settings menu
In 'Canvas Only Settings', un-check everything except the Menu. (I leave stausbar and titlebar checked so they go away as well).
Now, only the items checked will be hidden when using tab key.

When you need the menus back, just hit tab again. Works great.