I'd just buy what you want. My first few pipes were churchwardens but honestly I rarely smoke them. But if you have to have one buy it, let's be honest, it won't be your last one.
Hey Congrats. Now you got to get one of those tweed jackets with patches over the elbows for when you are smoking a pipe on campus. At least that's what I've seen.
I believe that "sipping" is comparable to sipping through a straw while drinking, it's a similar technique. Like if you want a lil sip have a sip, if you want more smoke sip a lil harder but with the same technique of drawing through a straw.