Lawdog, I have been smoking a pipe since 1979, and I have always put tins and canning jars away for a rainy day. I keep a comprehensive cellar reaching back 15 years. I concentrate mainly blends that are high in Virginia content. Contrary to what some might think, latakia blends age quite well too, especially if they contain some Virginia. Penzance is insanely good when aged. The latakia softens, but remains potent.
I just opened an 8oz mylar bag/tray of the original Esoterica Penzance, with Syrian Latakia, laid down in 2005. It's sublime, intoxicating with complexity. I have another 8oz bag/tray (2005) unopened. I also have in jars, 1 lb each of Dunhill Nightcap, My Mixture 965, and Early Morning Pipe, Three Years Matured Virginia, 3 lbs of Peter Stokkebye Luxury Bullseye Flake, 3 lbs of Peter Stokkebye Navy Flake, 8 tins of Escudo Navy Deluxe, all from 2005. They are all supurb! They were in a sealed tub that I left with my brother, in Tacoma Washington back in 2005. It remained in his possession until this year, when I retrieved them and brought them back to Phoenix.
My experience with aging tobacco has been overwhelmingly positive. Just make sure you have factory sealed tins or mason jars with new seals.