I couldn't agree more, except I didn't have a golf tee when I started. I used a large-headed nail as a tamper.
I still smoke mostly cobs, and I keep some PA around. It's sort pf a Back-to-Basics thing, with me.
If you smoke a cob, and don't go crazy with tobacco, you can smoke a pipe cheaper than cigars, or cigarettes (and probably snuff as well). Heck, you can probably smoke a pipe cheaper than chew tobacco.