I agree so much with this. All the methods are just ways to get a person who has never packed a pipe close to a good packing job. I suggest trying a few and seeing how they work for you and then naturally evolving to just packing the pipe. Packing methods are kind of like training wheels in my opinion. Experiement. Also you can use a pipe tool to tighten or loosen a pack as you go.Don’t think about it is the best way
Pack it loosely, press it down and repeat until filling 3/4 of the bowl.
Smoke that new pipe however you please and try what ever tobacco you want to smoke but let it cool down between smokes.
There’s going to be some trial and error but that’s part of the process.
It will all come together pretty quickly.