Anytime your stuff gets damaged or borken by someone else you have a right to be upset, accident or not. sounds like everything is smoothed out now though which is what matters.
I have some Irish Flake in a mason jar right now. I come from cigars like rocky patel decades and rocky patel the edge. I wish i had started with more of a VA forward non-aromatic blend. glad to hear your enjoying it though. its something new everyday.
hmmm a dime? like 10 cents? could be to compensate for the bowl being drilled too low below the draft hole. If its smoking well for you and your enjoying it, i wouldnt change a thing. maybe get a better quality pipe though.