I actually had a Lamy Safari a few years ago and didn't care for it at all. The nib was blunt and I couldn't get good clean lines with it at all. I contacted someone who does work on fountain pens and was told I could get the nib sharpened, etc., but it would've cost more than the pen itself. I just went back to my Sharpies and have been happy with them for many years. I get the results I want and that's all that matters to me.
Absolutely, using what makes you happy is what it's all about. Your work looks incredible to me, so, if it ain't broke don't fix it!
I actually admire you fellows with fountain pen collections. I wish I knew someone personally who had some so I could try them out. My parsimony is to the point to where I'm rarely willing to spend money to "try" something out. I just stick with what I know in most things.
Oh, and thanks for the compliment! My work is a bit like if Tolkien's calligraphy had an ugly first cousin. You can obviously spot his influence, but I've added my own flair. I'm sure he did the same in his own time since there is nothing truly original under the sun. Penmanship is a lot of fun.
You are very welcome. It sure is fun. I play around with calligraphy a bit but it's certainly nothing to write home about, or with! But practicing is definitely fun.
True, being able to try them goes a long way. I'm lucky enough to have a B&M shop not too far from me and that makes decisions a lot easier. Comparatively speaking, even a lower end fountain pen can be quite an investment on what basically amounts to an archaic tool. If something is working for you, that's the way to go.
The Eco is a whole lotta pen for the price.
