It's really been an important part of my accelerated learning curve, Richard, to talk to people who know more about making pipes than I did. I started out as an accomplished woodworker and long time pipe smoker. This should translate into "instant expert pipe maker" but it translates into SFA.
Kurt Huhn tells new guys to make a pipe, then make a pipe that smokes good, then make a pipe that smokes good AND looks good. It's good advice, and getting OBJECTIVE judgments on your art is critical if you want to get past pipes that look like they are home-made. And it's just little things, usually, little tweaks that correct a piece and presto - it sells.
Best of luck, hope to see you at the pipemakers forum.