Well... I didn't think anyone would go out and buy either of these components, but you know, sometimes you just never combine a certain pipe and tobacco, just never crosses your mind. I have always loved Irish Oak, though it was somewhat overpowering for me. Not to mention that I generally agree with the fresh tin having that certain harshness, and that leaving the tin sit for months, and even a year, after cracked, improves this. But I couldn't help wondering if I was missing something underneath that harshness when it is freshly cracked, so I tried it with a 9mm, which type of pipe I have recently fallen in love with. People talk about flavour muting with filter pipes, and I have experienced this, but with Irish Oak, I find it to be, "freshly cracked tin harshness" muting. I'm getting a great flavour from the fresh tin, that I imagine evaporates, as I usually leave it sit for months. Letting the tin sit after cracked still produces a nice smoke unfiltered, but I too find that it becomes "oak dominant" and I tire of it. Lately with a fresh tin and a 9mm pipe, I find myself smoking other stuff out of a sense of responsibility. LOL! Seeing as I only smoke once a day(morning smoker, hence the handle), I want a primo smoke every time. IO in a 9mm delivers that for me.