Price shouldn't be based on how much kick the cigar has. Different palates have different preferences, and Huber & Co. seem to be targeting palates with an appreciation for medium strength and complexity.
I'd put the Las Calaveras against just about any $10 non-cuban out there right now. Personally, I think it stands up to almost any NC out there right now, regardless of price range.
Always enjoy your posts and it saves me taking up writing space when I read yours. Just to amplify a bit more as to what the Poster is talking about and I can appreciate the dilemma as to the cost of certain cigars esp. when they aren't in my wheelhouse of what I like. Nothing worse than spending good money on any product that tends to feel like you got taken and this occurs with everything in life and it's the smart person who will educate themselves before ever spending a dime on any product. For those who don't want to feel like they are being gouged or taken advantage of there are a few things to consider:
1. Find out what type of cigar you like.....complex, mild to full....large RG vs small RG
2. Follow those brothers who you know that share similar tastes that you have....
I did this years ago and it saved me a ton of money rather than trying out so many
cigars that just didn't do it for me....when I followed their lead I was enjoying more
cigars that were in my wheelhouse of flavors.
3. Don't buy boxes of cigars...if anything purchase 3 to 5 cigars and try them over a period
of time...first one at 30 days...2nd one at 60...3rd at 90 and so on as this will give you
a good indication as to how it might change and thus get better over time.
Understand one thing as well...if you are pretty new to cigars or even if you've been smoking for a few years your tastes WILL change...and that means your association of flavors to a particular cigar will change as well. What I hated 20 years ago I really like today and age is also against us as grow older...our taste buds die off and that changes our perception of taste altogether. Lucky for us hobbyists is that there are so many brands of cigars we will never run out of product. Lastly...I love Las Calaveras cigars and Crowned Heads for that matter...Jon Huber is almost like a chemist when it comes to targeting the masses as far a what we like in a cigar tasting so good and IMO will be one of those people to look at in the years to come. While you can't please all of the people all the time he's been able to come out with hit after hit and that is a Babe Ruth moment as far as being able to get it right when he comes up to the plate.