It's been an interesting few years here. The market has changed, the number of carvers has dramatically changed, and the number of guys who are interested in actually learning how to craft a pipe well ... hasn't changed. I've seen more frustration lately on all sides - established makers, newer makers who are working really hard and have decent product but are being ignored, retailers, brand newbies.... there's a lot of different pressures on the market. Lots of pipes going to Asia is a factor that awhile back... wasn't a factor, really.
When I see someone considering an artisan pipe, I ask them their budget, their hopes and dreams for the pipe, all sorts of relevant factors, and try to direct them successfully to a carver who will meet their needs. The cool side of all this is that there's a LOT of room - if someone wants to carve lizard-shaped pipes and decorate them with glued on glitter... they can. Unfortunately, there's a lot of really awful pipes being made under the "artisan" flag and with wider exposure, the wider education about what any pipe should look like at any given price point... that's been a little slower. But whatever - people can buy what they want from who they want, and that's all part of this equation. Finding a fit and making it stick long term is not the same as being "that guy that makes AWESOME pipes" for 9 months.
The FDA stuff has been scary, there's all kinds of strange shit going on, it's lucky any of us manage to get by in this industry at this point!