Rollerball vs Fountain pen dilemma
I'm placing an order from jetpens, and I would like to include a lamy al-star pen since I wanted to get one for a while. However, I'm on a dilemma since I'm unable to make up my mind between the rollerball or the fountain pen.
For some context, I'm a European customer, and the color I'm aiming for is the dark dusk limited edition. I am definitely able to find these pens elsewhere (closer to Europe), but since I was going to place an order from jetpens anyway, I think it's ideal to get it from there. In addition, I've never used a fountain pen before. That being said, I really look forward to giving them a try.
At first, since I'm quite interested in rollerballs, I was considering purchasing it, testing how the writing experience feels (the thick body and the unique grip), and then if I find it pleasing, proceed with the fountain pen purchase later on (because they have similar body structure). However, I've seen many individuals mention poor ink quality when it comes to lamy rollerballs, and that had me worried about whether it's a worthy investment. (Although, I've also heard about alternatives for replacement inks that could solve the issue altogether)
On the other hand, if I proceed directly with the fountain pen, I am worried that I won't use it as much. The more demanding paper quality will make it hard for frequent use. Most importantly, as said previously, I'm entering the territory of fountain pens for the first time. I basically know nothing about them. I haven't even tried one before, and that has me particularly worried.
And that's the dilemma. Should I purchase the rollerball and risk poor ink quality/bad experience/need for alternative ink replacement? Or do I get a fountain pen (for the first time!) for which I might not like the writing experience/use less frequently/need better paper quality? Since I'm new to the stationary industry, any help is appreciated and welcome!! I'm looking forward to your feedback on these products to help me make this decision!!
TL;DR
I have a hard time choosing between purchasing a lamy al-star dark dusk limited edition fountain pen vs rollerball. I am familiar with rollerballs, but I have never used fountain pens before. The risk for rollerball is that users have reported poor ink quality with lamy refills. The risks for the fountain pen are using it way less frequently/not enjoying as much the writing experience. I am particularly worried because I have never tried them before. I'm looking for community feedback on these products to make my decision. Any help is appreciated and welcome!