My wife is a calligrapher. To a calligrapher or artist is like a baton is to a conductor, a Stradivarius to a violin player, a classic Gibson to a guitar player.

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.

if you ever write a lot with pens then using a Fountain pen is a dream to write with on good paper. I always used to get a cramped hand from using rollerball pens, gels were a bit better but not much.

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.