I finally gave in and bought a proper drawing tablet last month
I spent about $350 on a mid-level screen tablet after using a cheap non-screen one for years. I was sure it was a waste of cash, but the direct hand-eye link changed my line work overnight. My sketches went from stiff to feeling natural in about a week. Has anyone else made a gear jump that actually made a big difference in their art?
That $350 jump sounds like my move to a Cintiq. The screen really does cut out that weird disconnect. Quinn_kim45 mentioned brush pens, which are great for line flow, but a proper tablet changes your whole setup.