This is a good point and I haven't read every post since this one but I would have to think that MSRP has to have little bearing. For example, Gurkha MSRP is usually about 500% - 700% what you can buy them for every day. So if I put $100 worth of Gurkha at MSRP and took $50 worth of OpusX or VSG I would be raping the pass, right?
If you put $100 worth of Gurkha, and took $50 worth of Opus - that would be raping that pass. Gurkha is easy to find - Opus "not so much".
And it really should be comparable. i.e. - Gurkha for Cohiba Red Dots, and Davidoff for Opus. Gurkha's an awfully nice cigar, but it's not the same rarity as Opus. Davidoff is a tad bit harder to find, and are on the higher end.
Actually, to be honest - I have quite a few Opus' laying around. I like having one here and there - but I primarily keep 'em around to pass to others. Same with Anejo's - and a couple of other like cigars... Nothing feels better than handing one off to someone that has never had one before and is dying to try it...
It's not about raiding the pass (I've seen that done more than a few times). That really does speak about your character. On other boards I've witnessed people putting 10 sticks in, and taking 5 out thinking they're doing everyone a huge favor. They put in Perdomo, Padron 1000 series, Sancho Panza's, RP Edge's etc. and taking out Opus, Padron '64 & 26's, Ashton VSG's, etc. No doubt decent puts - but that trade is quite a bit lopsided.
But - what comes around, goes around. If it's about getting really hard to find cigars and cleaning out the humi of the smokes you really don't like - others will notice. If it's about what Emo says - "making the pass better" - well... If there's a smoke you truly are dying to try - stick around and be fair in your trades - it'll come once you establish your reputation... :whistling:
Now - if you're REALLY being a good guy - you'd trade Opus' for Gurkha's!
Edited to add:
BTW - I'm smoking the LFD Lancero as we speak. Interesting cigar!!!