In the past, I was a serious pipe smoker, in between cigarettes. I'm still an occasional pipe smoker with a continuing interest in that hobby, so I'm also on a couple of pipe smoker forums.
Many serious pipe smokers have their "cellars" of pipe tobacco. I have one myself: about 50 pounds laid down to age into remarkable smokes. I bought my last "cellaring" tobacco in late 2010, shortly before I became a vaper. And many have collections of antique pipes: I also have many, some over a century old, that I've restored to near-new condition. (If you're interested, PM me to see an online museum of some of my "senior citizens.")
Sadly, the pipesters' reaction to the Demon Regs is simply to continue stockpiling. Here's a typical attitude: "Total agreement on the need to stockpile as much as you can and the sooner the better. I think I am in good shape overall but will spend the next few months adding depth to some of my favorites." And you'll find a bunch of similar posts.
Actuarial studies over the last century have shown clearly that pipesters and cigar-smokers live on average somewhat longer than the never-smoker part of the population. The FDA must be aware of this: pipesters have shrieked this fact to the FDA for many years now, and backed it with reams of statistics. So, as we all know, the Demon Regs are not about health.
As with e-cigarettes, new hardware will disappear. The pipe craftsmen can't prove substantial equivalence when each new pipe is carved from a different briar bole. New tobacco blends will disappear. The artisanal blenders clearly can't prove SE, since every new blend is different from what came before. The secondary market in aged pipe tobaccos, and antique and "estate" (i.e., used) pipes will soon disappear. And so on.
As with e-cigarettes, thousands of Americans catering to the pipe-smokers are now out of work.
