I've said before that ringtops are often a bargain: I won an auction for a "greenish" gold-filled ringtop (forty bucks) and on arrival, I sent it immediately to Fred Krinke with another pen. What came back was in lovely shape - almost unworn - but what I hadn't expected was the superflex #2 nib. It's one of the best nibs I have and a real bargain even with the cost of repair. My point is that they're out there. W-E made an awful lot of ringtops and I always ask the seller to test the nib. They can usually tell me if it's flexible or not. I hear a lot of whining about not being able to find flex for a reasonable price, but if one is willing to scroll to the end of the listings and do some light interrogation, one can find some very interesting and fun pens.