[gus_massa]

It depends on the topic. Math notation is a 2D horrible domain specific mess, and it's much faster to draw it in 2D than forcing it into a 1D symbol chain. (Bonus point for Greek letters or $\weird$ symbols.)

[adhesive_wombat]

I remember doing a page of notes involving nu, and then v got involved! I put little tails on the nus after that.

[gus_massa]

When I have to write "U" and "V" by hand in a math text, my "V" looks almost like a "Y".