I've been a pipe smoker for 51 years, although I foolishly give it up for 10 months, after a short hospital/nursing home stay. After being forced to be smoke free for a month, I figured I could kick cigarettes by also giving up the pipe. Of course, I kept smoking those horrid cigarettes, so finally decided to take up the pipe again, and see if I could maybe ditch the cigarettes. So far it seems to be working.
I smoke mostly corncobs, and prefer burley to other types of leaf. I've done some blending, and visit several other pipe & tobaco forums. I tend to lurk as much or more than I post, at least till I get my feet wet.