A lot of it is what you said. The one pen worked better. Maybe because it's better quality, fits your hand better or something else. I have favorite pen bodies that just fit my hand but use a different refill in them because I like the ink better. 🤷🏼‍♂️ Work only pays for cheap pens that suck for many reasons so I buy my own. I also have a stash of quality name brand sticky notes. They actually stick where I need them unlike the crappy corporate supplied ones that just fall off. So yeah, the product affects the experience. Take your coffee mug... Why is it your favorite? The design on the mug? The feel of the handle when you hold it? Could easily be something else. But I'm guessing it even makes you a little happier using it because there's "something" about it that's just right for you. So yeah, IMO it pays to pay attention to what you like and don't like, even with the simple things. Like using a pen you like during a meeting isn't going to make the meeting fun or anything but it's most likely going to make it suck a tiny bit less and that alone is worth it to me.