I live in an area where most have great struggles fitting a wine stopper into the box. Most effective is to use the smaller stoppers like those Ruth Niles sells, or the Arizona Sil small version for small vinegar bottles, Lee Valley sells some stainless and cork units that work very well for small vinegar bottles.
John Jordan is credited with the statement - life is too short to turn crappy wood.
My time is too limited to turn crappy pens -- so I get the better durability platings. Chrome is my utility finish because it is generally durable. Black Ti slimlines are a reasonable price and so are cigar shapes -- and you have a good product when you finish. (Some things are just not available in something other than powder coated gold - so that is what you use -- clear powder costings are tough, but....).