Many moons ago when I was about 20, I decided to give up cigarettes in favour of a pipe and I went to a tobacconist in Edinburgh (There were lots thhen, don't think there are any now)
He could not have been more helpful. He gave me a pipe, a cherrywood, and told me the advantages - cheap and didn't need breaking in. He then held bowls of various tobaccos under my nose until I found what I liked but also gave me reccommendations as to whether they burnt hot or cool etc. He then made me up a blend and the exact proportions were written down in a book with a page just for me. Each time I went back he took time to discuss my progress with the pipe and changed the blend a few times. He felt like a friend.
Got stopped on the street once while I was smoking my pipe and was asked for directions. Great to be able to use the pipe as a pointer - "Turn left there, second on right" etc. As has already been said, the pipe was also a great delaying tactic.

Got out of pipe smoking and back to cigarettes somewhere but I might look at returning to pipe smoking.

Eddie