The reason for the pipe is that cigarettes smell (and taste) awful to me. Also, there’s an element of ritual to smoking one that feels calming and, as I said, meditative. (I understand that cigars are similar but haven’t gotten into them.) Pipes aren’t a quick fix, like a cigarette, either. It takes time to prepare one and time to enjoy it. That’s more my pace. As for the quality of the tobacco, it mostly comes down to personal taste. I like something with a blend of flavors, but not needlessly complex or overpowering. Cooler smoking blends are easier to deal with, too. Tobacco’s absolutely have names (this one is called “Windsail”, by the company Daughters & Ryan) and there are absolutely tobacco snobs. As with all subjective experiences, though, the snobbery is just a front for personal preference.