First Fountain Pen: Monteverde Dakota or Pilot Explorer?

Hey everybody!

I'm a newbie entering the fountain pen community because I've been wanting to make my handwriting better.

I've been looking around for a fountain pen for the past 3ish weeks, and the one that has come up consistently without fail has been the Pilot Explorer. It makes sense because of all the features like the CON-70 and the consistency of the Pilot Nibs. However, I really dislike the aesthetic it has to it. It looks like a workhouse pen, and since I work in more professional environments it's less appealing.

This is where the Monteverde Dakota comes in. It has a really nice aesthetic to it, is mostly affordable and takes an International standard converter and cartridges. However, I've seen in multiple places that their Jowo nibs are sometimes iffy in terms of tuning, and how tight the tines are.

Right now, my mind is telling me to get the Explorer but my heart is telling me to get the Dakota. (The Metro isn't really an option I'd consider because of the ink capacity, the step down to the barrel being brutal and the fact that it posts worse than the Dakota.)

So, I'm curious; should I get the Explorer and mind the form factor or the Dakota and maybe take a risk? Does anybody have any expericence with the Dakota?

Any help is very much appreciated, and I'm excited to start my Fountain Pen journey!