It reminds me of the maybe apocryphal story how NASA invested time, money, and effort to develop a pen so astronauts could write in zero gravity, and the Soviets used pencils.

A great story, but you are correct about it being apocryphal: https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/the-write-stuff/

And one internet binge later, I am now the proud owner of a matte black Fisher 400B Space Bullet Space Pen. Cool story. (The real one, I mean.)

Sometimes the simple, old, and reliable tool isn't the best one for your environment.

Both used pencils initially, and both switched to this same pen.

Pencils have the disadvantage of putting out conductive graphite dust, which, in 0g, will float around for a very long time.