If you're leaving the tip open, i.e. the cap is not on for more than some seconds while you aren't writing, then the ink in the feed may dry. Another possible reason of these problems is low quality ink, nib and/or pen, and yet another is fibres of paper sticking into the cut in the middle of the nib.
edit: and dirtying your hands might be because you're a messy pen user. I definitely am, no matter if I use a ballpoint, a rollerball, a fountain pen, a marker, &c, I get my hands dirty. Personally I'm fine with that.
-Ink not coming out for the few centimetres of writing.
-Ink not coming out if I leave the pen for a few days without using.
-Having to refill if left unused for even longer.
-Leaky tips, dirtying the hand.
-Tips easily broken in a drop.
Somehow I always don't get the instant ink, no matter what pen or ink I use. This is the number one reason I kept giving up.