I have to agree with the above. Well, I don't have to agree, I do though.
My pipes during the day are for the nicotine and satisfying my oral fixation. My evening pipes are a bit different. The experience begins with the selection of the pipe (usually a meerschaum), the look and feel. No conscious thought though to the selection. I guess it is instinctive. I load with a bit more care, settle back with a book or TV show, light and forget it is in my mouth, adding immeasurably to my "wind down."
The experience is indeed nearly all psychological and tactile, as intended. The physical properties of the pipe, the balance, etc all add to the experience. I could do the same without the pipe or the book/TV by simply sitting back and relaxing, easy to do. But, having a book/Kindle in my hands, the pipe in place, the pup at my feet or under the table, and a glass of port at hand is a choice I find enjoyable. The pipes in my evening rotation may not in fact smoke better but, they are more pleasurable even though less noticed. They just hang there, more or less unattended, adding to the pleasure of my evening.
Those two or three bowls in the evening are a kind of reward at the end of a hard, or lazy, day. I'm self-centered enough to not deny myself the pleasure.