I have noticed that there is a bit of cynicism in this forum. I get it - it's hard to stomach anyone else getting a good deal if you think they're just in it for the money. If I had paid $800 for those pipes it would have been okay with everyone, as I then MUST be a collector with nothing but altruistic desires for the pipe-collecting community.
Yes, I love a good deal. Sell me a Ferndown in mint condition (or 'VERY Mint' condition) for $50 and I will probably clean it and flip it quickly, as their aesthetics don't impress me and I don't smoke them.
But I prefer to acquire pipes that I collect (Dunhills and Petes) that would be valuable if they were in great condition, but aren't. I get a thrill out of bringing them back to life. Such pipes are now gathering dust in boxes stacked in my spare bedroom, as I can't bring myself to sell a pipe that I put hours of planning and elbow grease into restoring. If I did, I'd probably get about ten cents per hour of labor if I even recouped the original purchase price.
I have over 500 pipes and constantly have grand plans of 'flipping' them down to a smokeable number. So if I do, and I make a buck or two, please just be happy for me.
You are reading WAY too much into our exchange.
Do whatever you like for any reason you like. I am not interested in your motivations, reasoning, or anything else along those lines. Your business is your own.
I'm a technician. Solving technical problems is what I do. Outside the shop I try to pass on what I've learned over the years on forums like this one, plus some YouTube demo stuff.
Doing that has involved significant interaction with many collectors for a long time, so I understand the implications that most technical issues have for the owners of pipes regarding their hobby, and try to pass that on as well.
That's it.