I, too, dislike those metal contraptions. Long ago I realized their downsides and removed them. Those that I couldn't (like my first pipe, a Kaywoodie) because they were part of the connection of bit to shank, I sent off to professionals (usually Mark Tinsky) to have a new bit fitted. Yeah, I know I lost any collectable value (whazzat?), but I own my pipes to smoke, not to sell. Their kinda like my guns: I buy 'em and use 'em, don't sell 'em.