Votes since my last entry:
Pipe Smoker: Da Vinci
Big Casino: Star of the East ... Engine99 is better ... "a world of difference [between the two]"
Kaiser83: Epiphany - NEVER! Epiphany 2010 - YES!
Brando71 - Mississippi Mud (no argument here, 'cause I have no experience with it, and am too deep into N.O. music at the moment to argue with a blend dubbed with the name of the "big river" any way

hope i didn't miss any)
Brando71, "feel no way" - I still haven't heard anything about Byzantium, so I guess it's even worse than Mississippi, according to it's lack of even one vote

... and regarding that blend from cakeanddottle@pipetobaccoreviews:
"Turkish, Perique and Latakia ... doesn't appear to be related to Red Odessa/Engine #99 ... jar note has a similar fermented fruit sweet tang ... fuller than Red Odessa, less full than Engine #99 ... focus squarely set on the Oriental component ... enough Latakia to keep you from dozing off ... Perique adds a bit of pepper ... don't get a very strong nic kick ... medium strength, medium bodied Lat blend mostly about the Orientals with a bit of Perique ... missing component in Lat blends that don't have either Orientals or Va. Less so in Va/Lat-only blends than in Oriental-Lat-only blends ... Byzantium sidesteps being a blend that draws attention to the absence of Va by throwing Perique in the mix ... a tangy note to a blend that teeters on deliciously sour ... never gets bitter ... tad oily ... Perique smells like heaven ... fermented fruit ... Lat here is medium ... $27.49/lb I may buy a pound to smoke on occasion ... not great but definitely good ... elements blend well ... not so well that you block out everything else ... "
It seems that from other reading, Byzantium may not be the best choice in the TPL direction. I'll have to cross that bridge later because right now, I have so much Mac Baren, Peterson and Stokkebye, that it's going to be a while before getting deeper into C & D. By then, with so many comments and votes here, I'll have a wealth of criteria. The obvious response to reading what others say about such and such is the matter of individuality, but when I know nothing of a blend, it's only sensible to check out the opinions as a useful guide to the unknown - and even if I miss responding to one or two, I appreciate everyone.
Obviously if 99% say "#1 blend" is the tops, it's probably well worth risking a sample purchase.
Hope my lengthy notes are not too taxing, if so, you definitely don't want the unedited version ...