Since we don't have an easy quoting function I'll do this by hand:
Rena mentioned missing the days of modest-cost gold nibs. I do, too, which is why a fair amount of my collecting, restoring and writing is done with vintage pens from many decades ago. I can still find old Sheaffer pens with broken parts, selling for a pittance, and yet they have big, beautiful gold nibs... which can be easily transplanted into modern bodies if one wants convenience of c/c, etc.
Rachel mentioned the ease of swapping nib units, but I've always found that such a bother and frustrating when I wanted to use both of them (or more) and concurrently with different inks. After my early days of thinking the original Esterbrooks, with the swappable Renew-Points, were the answer to all my troubles, I quickly ended up getting more of the pens just to host the nibs. Swapping loses its appeal (for me) and I am way bored with Jowo and Bock offerings these days (unless with a custom grind).
einv mentioned the cost of a basic gold nib, but there are still a lot of variables in this, especially when it can be a choice between large-scale manufacture (as in Jowo/Bock) or the individual company still stamping their own nibs. Gold is a premium, just as it is in jewelry, etc, that doesn't conform to simple equations. Materials cost is only one aspect of a pen's final price.
Always something to think about with these lovely writing instruments!
Cheers,
Jon
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