Many years ago they sold 1 mm lead for mechanical pencils. THAT was the cat's meow. It never broke and the lead was so SMOOTH to write with.

The smaller leads catch on the paper and make a vibration not unlike chalk screeching on a chalkboard. It was and still is annoying.

When I was in college, I saved my 1mm pencils for tests. Using them was like slipping into a hot bath - SOOOO relaxing.

Weird, huh?