Thanks for royally confusing me. I have been smoking a month and started out with the $35 Scotte starter kit (Pear Pipe) with 9mm filter that everyone told me was garbage and to get a briar. I now have 2 MM Gentlemen (6mm) cobs that I love. I was shopping for my first Briar and was torn what filter system to commit to or choose (9mm, 6mm, balsa, distillator, etc). I will still get a briar but now it sounds like my pear is not that horrible after all? I take this as a cherry on top that I have another pipe to rotate.