Why would anyone spend great sums of money on a Dunhill? They have a great product and tremendous marketing.
Probably the best known pipe maker, whose products have transcended their function to become a symbol of quality and success. You're not just buying the product, you're buying the cachet.
Kind of like Apple products. The fans believe they are using a superior product.
Not exactly, Apple was revolutionary while Dunhill upholds tradition. I've use Apples, PC's, Linux and UNIX based platforms. After 38 years of professional film and TV experience, 23 years in image processing and computer graphics for films and TV, I know that Apple is still superior for my needs, though the gap between Apple and the PC world has shrunk by a lot. Apple's handling of color data, which is critical in my work, is still better.
It is all a matter of personal taste, and it is pretty difficult to argue that.
No argument there.
I often ask that question when it comes to new pipemakers that have only been around a short while, put out only a few pipes a year, mostly the "unique" styles because they couldn't make a traditional billard if their life depended on it, and then ask $400.00 plus...
True that. The artisan movement is going through life stages, and there is no shortage of BS for high $. But, the best artisans can produce beautiful classical shapes as well as personal flights of fancy, and that does require more actual skill. And when someone with serious classical chops can also produce pipes which represent their personal aesthetic and are instantly recognizable, then that artisan has moved well beyond technical skill.
But, as it has been said many times before....to each his own...
True that as well. Some people buy names or flavors of the month. Others don't.
