I've always preferred fountain pens, starting with one that belonged to my grandmother; I started using that one in high school.  I currently have a relatively inexpensive Waterman--with a bellows, not a cartridge--that is my favorite of the two dozen or so fountain pens we have lying about this house, many picked up at yard sales or resale shops.

But I'm old.  When I went to school, we were taught "printing," which was presented as a precursor to "writing."  Not learning how to write, as opposed to print, was not an option.   

I agree wholeheartedly that there is a difference between taking notes and simple transcribing a lecture.    Transcription does not promote synthesis of information in any form--one is too preoccupied with taking dictation to think about what is being dictated.

When my own kids came home from school talking about some mysterious thing called "cursive," I almost didn't know what the heck they were talking about.