Welcome to Forums music'. Your question resounds in one way or another over dozens of threads over the years. The polar arguments are that the value of a pipe is totally determined dime-for-dime by its price, and you should always save up for the most pipe you can possibly afford to have a full rewarding pipe experience. The opposite pole is that name brand corncob pipes and shrewdly selected inexpensive factory pipes are all you will ever need and will provide everything you can expect from any blend no matter how fine. Unlike many issues with two extremes, both are correct, depending on your perspective, and many pipe smokers subscribe to both, that is, enjoy expensive pipes they are able to afford and also some well selected inexpensive pipes they also enjoy. I go with this last approach. I have several pipes that most would consider higher end, or at least high in the mid-price range, many in the solid mid-range, and many carefully selected low priced pipes many of which do well compared to higher priced pipes. Of course, you know you can often get better pipes at discounts, as estate pipes, in online auctions, and so on. If you want good pipes but don't want to spend a lot of money, at least right now, I think you can feel secure with the lower priced series of Stanwell, Savinelli, Big Ben, Neerup, Nording, and similar brands. If you shop carefully and learn about filters, adaptors to use filter pipes without filters, etc., you can find many good pipes in the economy bracket like Dr. Grabow, Yello-Bole (briar pipes, not the Brylon), Kaywoodie briar, and others. Iwan Ries has just reinstated their house pipes which are Italian made, highly serviceable I suspect, and inexpensive. Good luck and welcome aboard.