The Parker 25 is much maligned, I have seen it described as 'an ugly writing stick'. I disagree, beauty is in the eyes of the beholder after all and the 25 has a quirky, rugged, and functional appearance that appeals to me. As for the 'writing stick' bit, well, yes, that's exactly what it is, and it does its job very well indeed.
Its all steel construction and lack of moving parts make the Parker 25 virtually indestructible. The steel tubular type nib isn't going to break if you look at it the wrong way and it writes very well.
Most fountain pen users post the cap for writing and the somewhat odd barrel shape is designed for that very purpose, there isn't a better posting pen to be found.
The Parker 25 says 'I write, I don't break, you can afford me. I may not be pretty but you can like it or lump it!'