As far as I can tell, opaque dress finishes tend to be priced and treated on the same level as straight or flame grains, i.e., as premium finishes. But I'm not sure why they deserve that treatment. They're perfect for hiding fills and grainless ebuchons, so it seems you can start with cheaper blocks. So why aren't they priced accordingly, like say, rusticated models? And why do do they tend to be offered by factory brands like Dunhill, Peterson, and Stanwell, and not by individual artisans? Is this something that can be blamed on Dunhill, i.e, it's basically pretentious pricing unmoored from the merits of the pipe?