I am of the old mechanical pencils school. In a class I took a long time ago, that's what the teacher advised us to use. At the time, I thought it was a strange thing to have on the supply list. She's a past winner at Paducah, so I figured she must know what she's talking about. I've never had any trouble with the markings coming out. The lead is so thin, it gives you a tiny line, and by using the mechanicals, the line doesn't get any wider because your point doesn't get dull.