[evazan]

I would say I agree with most of what is being said. I hope I didn't portray in my first post that the only reason to smoke a pipe was because it is cheaper. That was just an extra advantage I discovered after I began. At this point in time the cigar still definitely has its place for me. I haven't broken the pipe out in public yet and I'm not really sure when I will. For me the two offer very different experiences and the experience I'm looking for more often comes from the pipe. When I'm smoking a pipe I prefer to be alone and use the time for private contemplation. Once the weather gets warmer and I start backpacking again I could just imagine the pleasure of waking up and lighting up a bowl. However, If I'm with some buddies the cigar is still my go to smoke. I find cigar smoke tends to take away from the experience of the pipe anyway.

So for all I know I could be surrounded by a bunch of closet pipe smokers such as myself. Either way I'm enjoying the experience.