Yep - that's how I first got into fountain pens. It's been downhill every since. ;-)
Actually I was lucky in that I was in Europe when I first discovered them. You can buy fountain pens at any drug store there - they're much, much more common. I have a Waterman pen (French...but I didn't know better...;-) that is a lower end model you can't get here - one of many in its class. Here, we can only get the more expensive ones. And it's not a bad writer! Just a little stiff...the nib is...iridium, I think?
And then I have a couple of older inexpensive Parkers I got on eBay. Still love to have a nicer one someday.
More info than you bargained for? ;-)
No, I find it interesting.
I like doing calligraphy, but I'm not that good with it.