wow- nice birds eye grain on that briar! love the chunky, solid shape too. i have always been a bit scared of thick-walled pipes, believing (perhaps incorrectly) that thick walls crack more easily due to uneven expansion as they heat and cool...perhaps someone will correct me on this if they know?
Scotrob, I've been smoking pipes since 1988 and I've never had a bowl, thick or thin, crack on me. My personal preference is for thicker bowls, but that's mostly an aesthetic choice.