Can I use a stylus pen on my iPad?

Yes, as long as it is designed to work with iPad/iPhone/iPod.

It has to be stylus with a broader and soft tip that mimics a finger. Some are available quite inexpensively.

(as opposed to the thin hard pointy styluses we all used with older touch screens in various devices that didn't respond to the touch of a finger)

Yes you can. Just make sure it is compatable with iPad. Styluses design for other devices may not work. Most retailer that sell iPads sell them, and you will finds dozens with a search on Google or Amazon

Yes. Just to share, I use this stylus which is accurate and has no lack in response.

http://dagistyli.blogspot.sg/

You can use a capacitive stylus like the 5mm fine tip stylus of stylusshop on any ipad. hope this helps.