Estate pipes are often (not always) a good deal, and most of them smoke well right off the bat, unless of course they happen to be unsmoked. New pipes offer a degree of certainty about what you are getting. I think for newbies, who haven't smoked pipes, it's better not to get into the extra variables of an estate pipe, inheriting other peoples' bad habits, various pipe repairs, etc., that only confuse getting started. Also, in my case, I am a non-cake-builder. I just like that way of going and feel it is better for the pipes. So new pipes, for me, are a way of making them entirely my own, like bringing up a kid right. My first estate pipe was a wonderful artisan pipe given me by a Forums member, and I have since been given another estate pipe as a gift, and these have been perfect, so I am now something of an estate convert, at least open to their wonderful possibilities. But I think it is fair to follow your instincts. Estates certainly have a universe of benefits, beginning with price, and new pipes certainly have points to recommend them. For a newbie, I'd still start with a new briar in a good brand, just to make it simple, and to have the education of breaking in a new pipe.
