Ya know, nobody was condemning anyone for buying really great pencils.
But paying the reported $40 to $50 for one pencil, one that is no longer
made and is no better than top flight pencils still in production is 
both
foolish and wasteful if you are just buying it to use it up.

Artist grade Kohinoor and Staedtler graphite pencils sell for around 
$1.50
each.  Not cheap, but far from the going prices on Eberhard pencils.  
They
are every bit as good, and are not a non-renewable resource.

If you want artist quality pencils, go to the nearest art supply store 
and
ask for "artist grade" pencils, not "student grade."  Some are hex, and
others are round.

I don't mind paying for good pencils.  I have Kohinoors and Staedtlers,
and I use them.  That's not the issue.

Mike in Sacto