I don't know that there's much waste associated with writing if you're simply using a cartridge pen like the wildly popular Pilot G2; all the same, I found the idea that I could do away with even that little bit of waste, combined with the knowledge that I could in theory make my own refill ink if necessary, too appealing to resist. I got the impression that this interest often turns into an expensive hobby for people, though. The folks who don't turn it into a hobby seem to be ill-represented online, at any rate. I've been able to resist this pull for the most part. My kit consists entirely of one jar of ink and five pens, pictured below.
First off, I selected the X-Feather Noodler's Ink because I'd seen the brand recommended for archival inks, and X-Feather was the ink that was available at the art shop nearby. Since then, I've learned of the political views of the owner and won't be buying this brand again once the jar's empty. I debated even including the ink in this photo, but I decided to include it because I wanted to take an honest photograph of all my fountain pen kit, including the uncomfortable bit, and because I figured acknowledging and talking about it would help other people who might not have heard about the Noodler's Ink drama. (Regardless of whether you think the charges of antisemitism are well-founded, the anti-masking alone is sufficient for me to switch to another brand. Likely a DeAtramentis Document or a Diamine Registrar ink.)
Of the pens, my favorite is the solid brass TiLiner to the right of the LAMY. It has a pleasant weight to it. I received the aluminum TiLiner to its right for free, and I've found it to be an acceptable substitute in a pinch. I also discovered that, while the brass version was sold out and would not be produced again, the aluminum one was on offer at a deep discount while supplies lasted. So I bought two as backups. (As of 2024-12-15, supplies have lasted since then, and those aluminum TiLiners can still be had for $10 US apiece if you don't need a nib, converter, or clip. I feel like clips just get in the way, personally, and I'm fine with switching nibs to switch pens as I don't do it very often, but your mileage may vary.)
I picked up the LAMY at a Kinokuniya when it began to bug me that I had no conception of what more popular fountain pens felt like. It's fine, and I do like that it's less eye-catching than the brass one is, but it at least confirmed for me that I prefer smaller pens like the TiLiner I already had.