Experience vs. Taste Buds

Yeah, that's one of the real mysteries. I have to think the brain is as much involved here as the taste buds themselves -- something to do with how those basic taste sensations are processed differently over time after repeated experience.

In a loose sense, as in physics, the observer effect applies to pipe smoking. The term refers to changes that the act of observation will make on a phenomenon being observed. The act of smoking affects the taste buds, thus affecting the taste of the smoke - and food. The effect is stronger than cigarettes but not as strong as cigars.
Regarding repetition and time to appreciate a blend, to quote a song sung by Bobby Vinton, to know, know, know you is to love, love, love you. It takes time and repetition to know anything with depth. As a matter of fact, one of the tests of love is time with the object, whether it is a person, a dish, a wine, or a piece of art. That is why time is required before declaring a piece of art or music a "classic." It has to stand the test of time.
It also takes time to gain the knowledge provided by comparison and experience. What you like this year you may be one of your least favorite blends a few years from now.
What I may like most about the hobby of pipe smoking is that there is no ultimate destination. It is the journey itself that provides the joy.

Surprised I haven't got any trash talk about quoting Bobby V. He is as corny a balladeer as they come but I will admit during my military days, after we had MANY drinks, that my buddies and I would sing along to Lonely Soldier. None of us would admit it, but it struck home.

It is very interesting that the more you smoke a pipe tobacco more you will get the real taste of it.

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The one exception for me to this rule is latakia. The more I smoke it the less I can taste it and it then requires a break from latakia to get the full taste back.

I have to think the brain is as much involved here as the taste buds

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I agree. Smoking a pipe taught me how to taste smoke, and it helped with other things like cooking too. I gained a new appreciation for some favorite spices and some I hadn't used before.

I think the converse is true. The newer I am to a blend the more I focus my attention on trying to understanding the flavor and aromas. As I become used to it and know what to expect my focus can wander and I tend not to pick up on new flavors as easily.
I think our ability to distinguish and enunciate flavors becomes refined by our experience and education with a blend but the nascent ability to perceive ultimately diminishes with pipe smoking and age.

On a simialr note, what gets me is how people only smoke a pipe or cigar on 'special occassions'. Um.. why? I really think to best appreciate the flavour of either you need to partake in them often.
Abstaining from them will make them taste alien, overly spicy and not even nearly as good as they can taste. Just like how you pick up on those subtle notes of a good baccy when the tin is nearly finished, not every flavour of an enjoyable component can be experienced with only one try now and again, it needs perseverance! Almost like 'studying'.
I found with Condor that the famous soapy, flowery taste went away after half a pouch, it went from very obvious with each puff to a different beast with creamy, sweet and kind of sickly smoke.
On a different side of the fence, I also find that my taste buds become dull to one particular baccy over constant smoking. In a way some tobacco benefits regular/daily use for a few dyas to get the most out of it, but some others quite the opposite! A fresh slap across the face of a baccy that you don't smoke often is nice, but finding the ones that benefit from regular or iregular use is part of the fun.