The big advantage for me is they are 4 bucks apiece here locally for Washingtons, so I have a handful that I rotate through all day for a quick 'having a smoke' as opposed to going out and 'smoking a pipe'(as a member here put it). Another big advantage is that even though I am guilty of mistreating them, and maybe even bordering on abuse, they are beautiful little masochists and stand up to all of it.
Caring for them, I just follow the advice I read from Lawrence and Cortez about screwing a paper towel into the bowl, and a pipe cleaner through the stem, sometimes with alcohol (when they've earned it). When they've sometimes gotten expansion cracks that leak air, a spot of Elmer's, a days rest in the infirmary to dry, and back into rotation.
A couple are almost 3 years old now...35 would be great!