One important index of the value of the Stokkebye brand is how Peter Stokkebye was regarded in his day. It seems to me he was held in high regard among pipe smokers and people in the trade when he was alive, and the pipe magazines, including the legendary Pipe Smokers Ephemeris published a lot of tributes and eulogies to him after he passed away. Admittedly, he's no longer in control of the use of his name connected to pipe blends, but personally, I've been consistently pleased with all the PS products I've bought, which are the non-aros -- English, Virginias, VaPers, and blending tobaccos. Can't speak for the aro blends. When this sale came up I made sure to get ~5 lbs of flakes and Englishes, some for the cellar.