One definitie challenge of pipe smoking is seeking scarce blends. There are numerous blends that are prized but not widely available, and pipe people love to go in quest of these and score them when they can. It's a sport and an endeavor, and you can't deny the rewards when they are attained. But I have always equally felt a loyalty to those blends that succeed by producing volume to meet the demand and sustaining distribution so their blends are continuously available. To the great majority of pipe smokers who are seeking only quiet moments after a busy work day or a smoke while driving, mowing, or waiting for their kids at soccer practice (etc. etc.) the available blend is the unsung hero of tobacco pipe smoking. You don't have to scour ebay or the rest of the web. You don't have to plow through every last tin at the pipe show, or drive two hours to the distant pipe shop or discount tobacco outlet. You can shop your price a little. You can sometimes find a coupon. Pipe tobacco outfits gain a lot of credibility with me for continuous availability and distribution. It's not as romantic as chasing the unicorns across the globe, but I honor the companies that work for the ease of the pipe people. Are you ever just glad you don't have to chase every blend over the moon?