Man, I don't discount your opinion or experience, and I assume you are correct that it's comparatively garbage, but I like Germain's Balkan Sobranie. It bares no resemblance to the myriad BS clones out there, which all seem a variation on a theme and I understand from popular opinion that they themselves are not quite like the original, vaunted brand made by Sobranie of London. I'm new to the game and have never come across the original Original Smoking Mixture for sale, and would likely balk at the price, so I will probably never know why the original made everyone so giddy.
I think it's fair to say Germain's is being deceptive by using a famous name for a different blend altogether. Hell, you have Philistines like me out there, cash in hand - be a little honest, call that blend "Germain's Puppy Pootoline" and make the tin dayglo orange. I'll try it as I try all Balkans and as I like it for a unique twist on a Balkan blend, I'll buy more. At least they'd be honest in doing so.
All of the above makes me assume one of two cases: either nothing is ever as good as it was as we age, OR the overall quality of available pipe tobacco is diminishing. Gone is Syrian Latakia (for now), and Old Belt Virginias seem to be the subject of special releases, not widely-available as they once were. This does not appear to be happening in the cigar world. The Cubans continue to innovate and breed new tobacco strains and while a lot of the old vitolas have been discontinued for marketing reasons, I am convinced that sooner or later, the quality remains high to my taste. Same for non-Cuban blends that have been out for decades. I see no dip in availability in Fuente or Davidoff offerings, except for new, limited releases made with new tobacco strains.
It all makes me wonder whether pipe tobacco availability is truly suffering at the hands of increasing regulation, or whether it's simply a lack of interest or demand. In either case, I have hope for a rise in boutique pipe tobacco.
