[milkpowder]

It's mainly the sensation while writing that makes fountain pens what they are. It's a completely different experience and different makes have their own particular feel when the nib touches the paper. All in all, fountain pens have become a luxury item. $200 or even $5k for a pen is not a lot to some of us just like you can spend at least the same amount on a pair of headphones.

The whole philosphy behind FPs is completely different compared to headphone/music listening and it varies depending on the value and rarity of the FP. Expensive collectable fountain pens are never ever used (in some cases not even inked!) so they're regarded as more a piece of rare art than a utensil. Cheaper fountain pens are used on a daily basis although even cheap fountain pens can be collectable and look nice. That said, the point at which cheap becomes expensive is highly subjective and personal.

For example, I would have no problems spending a few hundred on a pen and using it on a daily basis. However, I wouldn't use a pen that cost me $700 simply because that is the point when I start thinking it's getting expensive. The $700 pen would probably be sitting on my table in a glass box or something. Wealthier people would probably use rare/vintage pens that are valued at ~$1k on a daily basis and leave their $5k or $10k pens in the display cabinet. You are right in saying that a $5k pen would probably put down ink in exactly the same way as a $200 pen, but you are in no position to judge what others spend their money on let alone insult their hobby if you're not completely sure of their personal values, spending habits, financial standing, etc...

There's a much greater emphasis on aesthetics in fountain pen users than headphone users. Fountain pens are valued not necessarily by how they write, but more by what they're made of and how much time and effort was required to handcraft it. Headphones on the other hand, however cheap, rare or expensive, are meant to be used and rarely put inside a glass box on display. They're [edit: valued] by of how they function (ie how they sound) and to some extent its rarity. No one really buys headphones purely based on looks like people do with fountain pens. All in all, we enjoy headphones and fountain pens in different ways so let's be more diplomatic.