18 pipes (not including 3 cobs). Every pipe I've bought/been given has remained important and valuable to me. One of the aspects of my smoking experience can actually come from thinking about how I got the pipe; as well as the history if it's an older pipe. Each pipe I own has some sort of sentiment attached with it. Whether it be when/where I picked it up, who I met when I got it, who gifted it to me, or the memories made while smoking it; they will always hold a place.
I actually thought of the significance of a pipe the other day. It's a Dr. Grabow Rusticated Regal Lovat. It was purchased for me along with a DG Sculptura from an antique store. Something about smoking it that particular evening brought back memories, even from over 5 years ago! Smoking with my neighbor who got me started, my friend smoking out of it some, me making him give it back, the process of learning with it when it went sour, rebuilding it back to glory, and even recent memories of smoking it while playing with my niece. This has always been my "main" pipe and is for smoking Admirals Choice Vanilla Cavendish. To begin to detail the full flashback experience would require a lot more typing with that one. My DG Regal isn't the only one with sentiment attached just a prime example.
Regardless of how many I own, the sentiment is my value. That is pretty consistent. The new Savinelli Saint Nicholas out performs it, and only has the sentiment of it being an early Christmas present so far. Has not changed my opinions on any of my pipes. They all have their value in their own right.
Though I suppose it could apply for some. It really depends on the person and how they interpret value. Say someone had a a pipe that didn't smoke so well, but kept it in rotation. Then, along comes a the same pipe that smokes better. If there are no other factors other than the purpose of the pipe, of course the one better serving the purpose will make the former less useful, therefore less valued. However, the opposite can be said. A new pipe comes in, and fails to outshine the others. The original pipe would keep it's value and purpose. So the original pipe may have actually GAINED in value because it performed better than the new. Whether it be psychological or in function...there are so many variables it's hard to place certainty here. Everything is different, one way or another. I know my new black t-shirts don't fit right...even though it's the brand and size I always get :D
Hopefully I typed that all out correctly and it flows. Have been interrupted a dozen times. As always, mso489 bringing a thinker to the table.