In pipes, I disagree with the "you get what you pay for" notion, because after a certain modest price point, when you pay more,
or a lot more, or an astonishing amount, you are paying for something different, and that's okay, but it's not about getting
full satisfaction out of tobacco. If you pay $8,000 for a Tiffany lamp, it is not because it holds the lightbulb above the floor
better than the $89 lamp from Sears. You're paying for all kinds of aesthetic, historical, craft, and cultural aspects. Likewise,
if you have a good MM cob or wisely selected low-end briar, you will probably get the full benefit out of any tobacco you may
afford. In the case of the inexpensive briar, you may enjoy this benefit for the rest of your life if you take care of the pipe.
But that doesn't make a beautiful, well drilled, well engineered, quality briar that sells for $40 a high end pipe. With high end,
you're paying for excellent superbly aged briar of unusual beauty, or something comparable in Meerschaum or other materials,
exquisite personal workmanship on the stem and on all details, maybe rare materials, and a visual experience each and every
time you take the pipe down off the rack. And that's completely legit. A classic oil painting isn't a print or a poster. So for
smoking enjoyment, you may go low-end if you shop wisely. For the rest of it -- art, history, inspiration -- this is between you
and your family and maybe you're accountant.