Me too. The engraved words aren't so obtrusive, and I think they make the pen look a little cooler.

Either way it's outta my budget

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Fahrneys says it has these in stock and is selling them for $365 -- I just bought one anyway, it does remain to be seen whether they come through. However, WorldLux also lists them at about the same price and says delivery will be end of September 2008. It seems they are not all gone and you do not have to pay $500 plus to obtain one. Possibly Pelikan is expanding the production in response to demand, or perhaps, like Bordeaux futures, they are being dribbled out in multiple tranches.

I personally think the engraving is a nice touch. I have a number of other demo pens and was leery of getting yet another -- after a point having a clear pen with the "guts" showing loses its novelty, although I also think some are rather lovely, like the OMAS "Vision" with its ribbed body; the Aurora 88 demo in chrome has beautiful lines and the big old swirly Visconti demo (I'm having a senior moment and cannot recall what they named the thing but I have it here staring at me from a glass top box on my desk) is a different idea. Given the price, the quality and reliability of a Pelikan 800, and the somewhat unique approach to the demo concept, I think it's well worth owning.

If this pen does like the 800 Blue Ocean or the 800 Brown Tortoise then it would be smart to snap one up! I saw one advertised today that said it was labeled in Spanish!?

Fountain Pen Hospital says it has them etched in Spanish. This morning they sent an email and appeared to be offering the pen for $380. This evening it is listed on their web site for $550. Go figure.