That being said, I would never, ever, buy electronics from them. They simply aren't an electronics company. You wouldn't buy a fountain pen or leather bag from Sony and expect it to be a premium product would you?
In the fountain pen world Monte Blanc is like Rolex or Tag is to the watch world. One od the foundational brands of the genre.
Unlike Patek Phillipe which is for true sophisticates.
Irrespective of whether a company is expert or not in a particular domain, they can choose (independently) whether their policy is to engage in customer-unfriendly business practices.
I never thought that someone will consider that fountain pens and luxury leather goods add a great deal in his life.
So yes, to many people an expensive guitar is just a status symbol, to a true artist it's something that adds a great deal to their lives.
It's the same here, my wife and I aren't lawyers, doctors or politicians, these pens aren't status symbols. These pens are used for creative pursuits, to design, art. Many of them are vintage classic pens that have deep history, family value, etc.
Just because you value certain things in your life, doesn't mean that others don't value other things.
Tried a Lamy Safari, a "cheap" for fountain pens at least (23 euros), and I have never looked back. I love writing by hand now, and take every opportunity to do so. It's just so much more fun writing when your thoughs can just slide out from your hand on to paper.
Daily drivers are my Lamy Aion (a 80Euro pen)with my Safari as a backup.