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I have a few 9314s, but no 2442. I was wondering what I am missing out on; they both look like left foot oblique ("righty") stubs. I know the 9xxx have the osmiridium tips, but this isn't a 2314 vs. 9314 so wondering what other difference there is; I can see the the Falcon has a semicircular pattern on the base, and I have gleaned that it may be a carry over from a dip pen that people were attached to.
I don't know how to put it in words. Very similar, just different. Gah! I have all the x314 variants and a few 2442s, and I really like the xx14-F and 2442 nibs. The look of the 2442 is very cool, and I think the nib is a little longer, as well. TBH, there is enough subtle variation in manufacture and previous usage that you'll only really know if you like it when you try one.
The 2314 and 9314 are left obliques, and the 2442 is a straight stub. If you rotate the pen with the 2314-B or 9314-B it will be similar to but better than the 2442. The X314-F or X314-M are narrower. Personally I didn't care for any of the 2442s I tried. The 2314s and 9314s were OK.
I am left handed, and tend to be an over writer. The 2442, advertized as a solution for left handers, did little for me. The obliques tend to keep me checking the orientation of a pen.
I am a left-handed writer, though not an over-writer. The descriptor "better" is very subjective, and the variation in the nibs we are talking about can be a factor.
I only have one 2442 and I'm not sure if it's just worn, but there's not much variation in line from vertical to horizontal. The 2314-M is closest to the original 314 Relief dip nib it is based on. The 2314-B is rather large, and I've not tried a 2314-F. The original 442 Jackson Stub dip pen the 2442 is based on was one of the best selling stub nibs for Esterbrook and was a stub falcon in shape. It was a medium stub (not as fine as the 312 Judge's Quill, not as coarse as the 284 Blackstone). The 2442 I have is about the same width as a 2314-M.
And the oblique makes a difference, for sure. The x314 nib was one of the first Esterbrook made for fountain pens, and remained one of their most popular stub nibs.
I don't think I have seen much line variation from Esterbrook's stubs, 2314-F, M, B; 9314-F, M, B or 2442. Nor from 2284 or 9284. Different manufacturers' stubs sometimes show line variation, such as Sheaffer Cadet S-1 stub for example.