+1 on all counts. There was a time when I never thought I'd own a rusticated or sandblast, and now I happily own several. Tastes change. I still like my smooths just as much, but rusticated pipes are just as nice to my eyes now.I actually like the sandblasted 2014 St. Pat's quite a lot. When I first started smoking, I didn't like rusticated or blasted pipes either. But as time went on I found myself gravitating towards them. Nowadays a good percentage of the pipes I buy are either rusticated, or sandblasted.
I say go for it Anthony, it might grow on you.. And you never know, you might have a change of taste and really get into blasted and rusticated pipes one of these days.