Are you implying that the pen-shaped item is a hardware wallet?
I don't think so. I am not aware of any pen-shaped hardware wallets. Looks like a standard pen to me. I think he was trying to say that the best and safest way to store your recovery phrase is by using a pen and paper and not relying on other parties or gadgets, like in the case of hardware wallets.
He was most probably implying that he just writes down the private key or seed onto paper. Pen and paper are not software and can be seen as hardware.
I'd guess that he either doesn't understand what hardware wallet means, either wanted to play "I am smart and funny". Or both.