Care to specify what makes this thing that sold 100 billion copies and is instantly, reliably usable in nearly any conceivable context so crappy? Why not also explain your superior design that you think would work so much better.
I have a pen cup for when I need to jot something quickly and can't be bothered to get my primary pen from another room, and I've noticed that I rarely, if ever, choose the Cristal. Granted, it is far from being the worst pen out there, but I wince at the thought of using it as my daily pen.
Furthermore, I don't think that selling 100 billion copies of a thing is a sign of quality, e.g., see Microsoft's product line.
As for superior design in a similar price category (i.e., get it free at every conference room), hands down, it's the Schneider K15. Solid ink holders, comfortable tip, a nice weight balance (albeit I find it too light overall), with an imo beautiful modernist design as a cherry on top.
I don't care about pens, but if this argument was made elsewhere it'd be argued that the ergonomics and fatigue support the concept of seeking rest rather than finding a pen that allows for longer work hours.
Example : if I said I was getting fatigued at the keyboard in some HN thread I would get 30 replies that told me to time my exposure and seek RSI breaks..
I think it's just not very solidly built, and in some set of circumstances (certainly not always) it's prone to making a mess.