Function and Form
Wednesday, July 13, 2011 at 10:50AM | Neill Archer Roan | Permalink tagged Form, Function, Functionality, Yashtylov | in Successful Smoking 
While dimensions of quality seem patently obvious to me, I’m amazed by the number of pipe-smoking friends who can’t describe in functional terms what they want from a pipe nor why they like what they like. It is as if they buy what they think is attractive to them then stop there.
Certainly, we all buy pipes that we think are beautiful or that attract our eye. But, there is more to enjoying the pipe-smoking experience than looking at and appreciating the pipe as an object. There is using it and coming to love it for its usefulness. Many of the old-timers I know among pipe-smokers appreciate pipes like they they appreciate women; looks take a back seat to likability and compatibility. 
Standing Apple by Viktor YashtylovThe longer I smoke a pipe, the more I care about the quality of the experience the pipe offers me. A wonderful smoker that is also easy to use and amenable to one’s smoking habits becomes a treasure. When such a pipe is beautiful, it is certainly a bonus. But, I would never trade away a great smoker for a mediocre smoker that just happened to please my eye. Function matters to me.
