ummmmmm i would not call cutting them in half normal. in fact its going to be MORE of a waste cutting it in half unless you really nub it down. your gonna waste more cigar with two nubs. as for smoking a hlaf a cigar in 20 minutes i would say he 1. is smoking way too fast or 2. not smoking alot and leaving a big nub creating more waste than just smoking the whole cigar. sounds like he needs cigarillos and not cigars!