'Atsa big hunka wood ya got there, bro!, (Bet that's the first time you've heard a guy say that to ya!... I hope...).
Did you get PIMOs book along with it? Really good, basic info in it. There's also
the Pipe Makers Forum, with alot of names you'll recognize in the industry, and DAN pipe has a
"HOBBY INSTRUCTIONS CATALOG", (click on "hobby", and you're set), which has some good info as well.
I can't think of a reason that smoking it "early" would hurt, not accounting for any odd mishap you could do to damage the unprotected exterior, but I'd personally wait until the product is finished since there'll be ALOT of dust to deal with during the finishing stages, and you'll want to hold it "by the bowl" when you're working on it which wll get additional crud on your fingers, (not a big problem, but still...). If you plan on staining the wood you'll need to do this. Don't remember anyone else mentioning it.
Looking foward to the pics!
Scott"toofrigginbusy"M