I thought for sure the Pilot G2 would remain my favorite purple pen, but in terms of color it's actually my least favorite. It leans more towards red than blue, and even the cheap Bic ballpoint looks better on paper. In terms of how they all feel to write with, the G2 is my second favorite. I prefer gel pens over all else, and I'm most used to the way the G2 feels in my hand, but I just recently discovered the Pentel Energel, and it gets high marks across the board. It's nice and hefty without being expensive, it has a rich color, and it lays down ink very smoothly.
I've noticed that all the gel pens have the same problem. If I quickly draw a straight line, a bead of ink leaks out of the tip and splotches the paper (kinda looks like an arrowhead at the end of the line). This causes the ink to smear, and even though I'm right handed I still find my pinky and ring fingers covered in purple ink after writing more than a few lines with each. I guess gel doesn't dry fast enough.
The Papermate is nice and dark, but it doesn't last very long. All the other pens can be bought in bulk, but the Papermate only seems to come as a single in packs with other colors, and they run out of ink before you've even gotten into the groove of things. Either they don't hold as much or they lay down more than the rest, but the end result is an inferior writing experience.
The Bic is disposable while all the gel pens can be refilled. That said, I've only ever been able to find refills for the G2 in stores, and even then only in packs of two, so the manufacturers really want you to throw them away when they run dry.
The G2 is probably still my favorite overall because it's sufficient. It does what it needs to do with minimal downsides. It feels good in the hand and doesn't smudge as badly as the higher quality Energel, which makes up for the dull color. The Bic would fare much better if it weren't so cheap and flimsy. It looks good but feels terrible. If the Papermate lasted longer, it would eclipse the G2. Same for the Energel if it dried faster. All three gel pens are in the same league, none substantially better than the others, so it's all up to personal preference.
