I have no problem with the Plip, although I know a lot of people do. But I feel your pain on dropping your new Pete.Tried to post this yesterday, but got distracted:
Just finished some Presbyterian Mixture in my brand new (a few weeks old) "Peterson System Standard 306 Heritage Tobacco Pipe PLIP" (copied that right from the order confirmation). This is my first Peterson, and I learned two things about Peterson pipes. 1) They make a beautiful pipe that smokes well, and 2) I really don't like the PLIP! I've smoked it close to 10 times I'd say, and my mouth just doesn't know what to do with that thing. Also, while the shape is gorgeous - it's a bit of an oom Paul shape - I find it hard to hold, and I've dropped it 4 or 5 times, once on gravel (ouch!)
Moved on to a MM Elf Cobbit with Lane 1Q. Wife having a second-hand smoke with me.
I once dropped a brand new Savinelli Trevi, straight out of the box, and drove over it in my chair, maneuvering it, so Mrs Z could pick it up. Double ouch