I always skim past these while admiring Nording's in general. Why? First of all, as the original post wonders, I don't know how this paint job will age. One of the good things about many pipe finishes is that they develop in a pleasing way over time. This looks like it might either fade or cloud in a way that would just look muddy. Second, I don't know how the presumably smooth finish carrying the art work would shed heat. Then there's the simple matter of the look of the pipe. Like the Japanese Tsuge's adorned with delicate flower paintings, they are playing against type for men, showing the warrior's delicate sensitive side...or something like that. Which works when it works, let's say, but otherwise just looks incongruous, and the poor guy smoking this pipe doesn't control that. I won't even touch deciding if this is a pipe that would appeal to women; women will have to make a statement on that. Probably like men, they'd all have different opinions, seeing it as ridiculously girly or pleasantly colorful. I'd probably smoke this if I had it, but nothing about it has piqued my interest. It's a Nording so probably a fine pipe.