Fold and Stuff works best with fairly thin flakes, I smoke a lot of Sutliff Virginia slices, and I just fold and stuff those in the pipe.
Otherwise - it depends on the flake how much I prep it. YMMV.
I already have one of these - I absolutely love it. Pulled the trigger on this as my birthday present to myself.
This is a Ropp Vintage 188. It will be a Virginia pipe, just like its brother.