>>2503448Longer stem = cooler smoke.
That being said you can get cooler smoke just by smoking more carefully, I imagine they're a pain to clean properly, they're easy to damage, and they are ridiculously overpriced.
Sure, they are a bit of a meme, but I'd still love to add one to my collection - it must be comfy sitting in a chair with a good book and a pipe that you can hold while keeping your arm on the armrest.
Historically churchwardens were popular also because:
- clay pipes often had long stems, because you were supposed to snap off the end to keep it more hygienic - as far as I know it was a common practice in taverns, where guests could borrow a pipe from the innkeeper.
- expensive pipes were a symbol of status and longer stems gives more room for artisans to show their skills.
- you can stab someone in the eye and kill them :^) [ok, just joking, but historians did found two such cases]
