As an experienced cigar smoker, I can tell you far more about cigars than pipe. They are both enjoyable, but in my opinion, they are two worlds apart. First of all the tobacco in each individual case has its own story, its own way of growing and harvesting. Like I said, I may be limited when it comes to pipe, but cigars have been and still are something I highly enjoy. Most cigar tobacco, both filler and binder, is new world tobacco (well maybe except the Italian world famous Toscana's, which are made with domestic fermented tobacco, and which create a class of cigars within themselves). Many prefer Cuban cigars arguing that the volcanic soil of the island gives tobacco a special taste. Personally I have found very good cigars from countries throughout the Caribbean that are truly rivals to the old fashioned Havanas. One example that comes to mind is the Arturo Fuentes Opus X. Don't get me wrong, I am not saying that Havanas are bad, although I think the quality of Cuban cigars is a tad exaggerated especially in the context of a long US embargo on Cuban goods. Soil does, however, play an important role in cigar tobacco and for some reason the cigar cliche is that the best soil in the world is in Latin america.
As far as taste, the filler (made out of 3-5 leaves of tobacco) ranges in variety, but in comparison to pipe most cigars smoke the same, have a lesser variety in smell and taste with a large pallet of variance on the same note. The binder also adds flavor, but you don't have different blends like in pipe, but various intensities from light (maybe candela binder) to dark (possibly a maduro). Sweetness also comes with dark, but is not as noticeable on your tongue as in pipe blends. Also dark binders tend to have a high nicotine note. As far as taste goes, cigar taste is maybe as diverse as pipe, but on a totally different note. Mind your ammonium, cigar tobacco releases a lot of ammonium, especially after it has been lit. Try one thing, smoke a cigar and leave the but over night in the kitchen ash tray - by morning you will hardly be able to stand the smell there.
When talking about cigars one inevitably talks about storage. Let us remember that cigars are kept in humidors, wooden boxes usually made out of Spanish cedar (a very dense type of tree, that keeps moisture within or outside), at a constant 70% +/- humidity. Controlled temperature is also recommend, as higher temperatures tend to hatch microscopic tobacco bug eggs, and damage the stogie. Given the rather rigid storage conditions for cigars, one can imagine that cigar smoking is less subject to creativity in comparison to pipe smoking. While you can dry pipe tobacco, or prefer it a bit moist, cigars cannot be smoked too dry or too damp. Too damp won't light, and too dry is very brittle and tasteless.
Rhythm - another main difference. Since I am smoking pipe on a regular basis, I have noticed that I am applying the same rhythm to my cigar smoking - not necessarily a good thing. Overall my experience has taught me that pipe smoking has a more alert rhythm while cigar should be smoked at a slower pace.
"When you find a cigar that is hard to put down to the point where you have a nub that is burning your fingers (...)" grouchkake, I never smoke my cigars, no matter how tasty, past the point where they drag hot smoke - usually a couple of inches of cigar left, give or take. They won't bite you like pipe tobacco does, but it destroys all the good taste in my mouth.
I am not sure I have made good arguments, or if I made any sense what so ever. I do tend to get excited when talking about cigars, and often times don't mind my coherence.
Good subject by the way ... I will think some more on it, and maybe come back with some more input
