Mont Blanc's pens have been quite competently cloned by Chinese firms. I have a Jinhao x159 which performs well at a fraction of the cost.

So I can see how this is a way of making a moat for themselves, it's just also a terrible way of doing so.

Relative to what you can buy from other more reputable brands for a similar price point, it's actually not great. Nib usually needs work due to poor QC, they creak, and they're just generally a lacking experience. I'm also not endorsing spending a grand on a mass-produced pen, but there's a sensible middle ground of not buying junk nor overpaying for something that doesn't enhance your writing experience. Equally, price isn't a reliable indicator of quality.

Yes, the Jinhao's of the fountain pen market make pretty decent pens, but that's not a fair comparison. That's like saying a Timex and a Rolex both tell time just as well, so why does Rolex exist?

> so why does Rolex exist?

So rich people can show off their wealth.

As the saying goes: "You don't buy a Rolex to tell the time, you buy a Rolex to tell others."

> And, yeah, I hate to blame the victim here

Then don't.