I was mostly an RYO/MYO'er. For the last 15yrs I've lived less than a mile away from what was (until a year or so ago) one of the big 3 players in the rolling tobacco market. I reveled in delight at the vast assortment of tobacco's both domestic & import. I was a connoisseur of tobacco like some are of chocolates, wines, or cheeses. Europe has (or had, they are having probs too) an amazing diversity in their rolling tobacco's... and the different small-leafed tobaccos grown in Turkey, or the Balkans...the American Periques- not the crap in the American Spirit pouches that BigTobacco sells- the fresh periques, from different parishes in the S.E. USA. Different locales have different methods of fermenting, and resulting flavor profiles.... And then Big Brother stamped out my last vice. Oh, if I wanted to I could certainly have any fancy cigar the gov't is fine with international & interstate commerce of cigars (and a cap of 40cents tax, even on the most expensive thousand$$ sticks). Even cubans are easy (and overrated) if you have the $$- but they just don't appeal to me. I tried. The connoisseur can still sample from all over the world in their pipes, but I find pipe tobacco's to be too heavily cased (flavorings, humectants such as PG/VG/honey) for my tastebuds.
I ended up with a Brit style golden leaf Virginia (advertised as pipe-tobacco to avoid the taxes, but still xtra fine-shag cut). In an emergency I'll smoke Camels or PallMalls. I still have around 4 cigs a day. They are a convenient timer when I take my dogs out- and taking my dogs out is a convenient excuse for a cigarette

but DAMN I love(d) tobacco!!
I avoid the tobacco flavored vapes. Since I smoked as much as for the taste & experience as for the addiction, I find most tobacco flavored vapes to be almost an insult- it's just not the same, and I fear that trying to chase duplication would lead me back to smoking- and when I smoke, I smoke like a freakin' chimney. Up to 70 sticks a day. When I have a vice, I like to really put my full dedication into it.

I'm putting everything I have into vaping, but I took a big financial tumble a few years ago when I got sick and had to take up a consulting job I could do from my bed/desk, so my vaping fund doesn't come close to matching any of my previous obsessions funds. Man, if vaping (and current vaping tech) and I had intersected just a few years earlier...








So now, like others, I chase the
ultimate vape. Just like I chased the ultimate smoke, now I chase vapors. I love RY4's- asian RY4s, the Americans haven't pegged it, they approach flavoring juices differently- but from american vendors I like vanillas, coconuts, caramels, cappucinos... creamy vapes.
Maybe I should quit chasing airy wisps- they're so hard to hold on to!
(man I can sure ramble....)