Ropey, the biggest problem I see to the question is that most of these guys will take a blend they don't care for and mix it to find a blend they like.They will pick out the nuance or taste of many differing tobaccos and use them to spice up or mellow others.As to newbie catchers,those big bags or burley like Smokers Pride are dry and more for the cigarette rollers than for pipes.You are going to find that it's not a risk of offending it's a respect that some people are going to like that blend you hate.Case in point,so far all the Sutliff blends I've tried I have enjoyed immensly,and the Russ's chocolate covered esspreso beans was passable but not enough for me to buy in the future.