I think a pen can be someone's grail because they love the color, the shape, or what it would let them do, not because it costs a lot. Making the price the test turns a personal goal into a spending contest, which feels especially off-putting when you're still figuring out what you like. An affordable pen can be just as worth looking forward to.
Mine would probably be a Pilot Kakuno. It's not expensive, but I've wanted one in a particular colour for ages. I think sometimes the pen you keep coming back to matters more than the price.
I agree price shouldn't decide it, but I do think there's something to saving up for a pen you've wanted for years. Part of the appeal can be the craftsmanship or knowing it's a purchase you've thought about for a long time. I wouldn't call that a spending contest.
I see what you mean about saving up for something, paperhabit. But I wonder if the anticipation sometimes ends up being better than actually owning it? I've had things I wanted for ages that felt surprisingly ordinary once they were mine.
That can happen, but ordinary doesn't have to mean disappointing. Sometimes the point is for a long-wanted pen to become part of everyday use, not to feel special every time you pick it up.
Quote from: paperhabitI agree price shouldn't decide it, but I do think there's something to saving up for a pen you've wanted for years.
The saving-up part can be satisfying, but I wouldn't want to stretch my budget for it. Waiting for a sale can be part of the plan too.