Sit down reading pipe.

First apologies for the long post. I always tell folks the difference between us nerds and normal folk is obsessive research. Just skip to Paragraph 3 if you want the question without the backstory.
Ok, after a week of research and an impatient itch to take up pipe smoking, my instincts lead me to churchwardens as the go to reading pipe. My reasons were,the bowl is away from the eyes, if long enough it could be held absently with arm on the armrest of my easychair, and possibly cooler smoke. The Germans here in Schertz and New Braunfels (nearby towns where my favorite bars are) seemed to agree calling them lesepfeife. I looked at my over long ape hanger arms, measured with a sewing tape measure stuck between my lips and decided that a minimum of 12" to a maximum of 18" overall length were the limits of comfortable elbow bend. After sticker shock, largely negative reviews, and just plain ugly looking pipes, I settled for the MacQueen Wizard in cherrywood (briar was on 6 week backorder and I had waited long enough). It's a decent pipe, the only problem is the tiny little bowl. I want to sit on my porch for several hours huddled over my book without having to repack my pipe. Even high dollar churchwardens seem to have these pathetic little thimbles for bowls. It makes no sense, you keep it in hand at all times, so the weight isn't actually a factor. Did I choose wrong to choose churchwardens?
My question is, do you find it easy to read with shorter pipes? What is the minimum length for a clamp in the jaw, hands free pipe that will keep smoke out of my eyes while reading? I've been eyeing Boswell's Large Rippling Wizard lately (starting new job in two weeks and will actually be able to afford it). Is that bend sufficient to keep it away from my face when hunched over a book in the unpredictable Texas wind?

Hmm, both of those churchwardens are definitely deeper, but not by much. The wizard is .75" x 1.16". The extra half inch should be enough to add some smoke time, I just don't know how much. I'm tempted to just ask Boswell if they will add a churchwarden stem and I could try them both out. New job is still 2 weeks away so probably 4 before I'll put my order in on anything. Lots of time to think it over.

Hmm, I guess I'm just being lazy about bringing the pipe back and forth. I am a statue reader. I grab a book and hold almost perfectly still because I'm so engrossed. It's part of what won me over to Kindle. Tap the thumb, turn the page. I would probably end up holding it until my arm got tired. Then again, it's only a minor change to my current habit. For that matter, I need to get into the habit of wearing my glasses so I don't have to get so close when reading.
MSO, I've had thoughts about several big bellied billiards and I still might pick one up, but they seem a little too short most times for outdoor smoking. Do you ever have trouble with the wind blowing bowl smoke back into your eyes? I see what you mean about rusticated Daniel, now that the appeal has been explained. I just prefer to see the grain if I'm looking at briar. Maxx, that looks like the kind of pipe I pictured going into this venture, medium length, a little silver, a direct stem for gesticulating in public. That would certainly be my go to social pipe, but not sure about it as a stay at home reader.