Stokkebye makes some of my favorite bulk blends. Very high quality and economical in bulk.
After 50 years of piping I can't recollect ever spending $99 or more on a briar, and that includes some nice Savinellis and Petersons. Most of the early horses in my stable were $15-25 (1970 dollars) "seconds"
If the engineering was decent, they'd eventually become very good smokers with use,
But I was never high up on the faculty food chain to be tempted by a $100 pipe.
I agree, you're doing it right. Remember this is supposed to be fun!