[cmitch]

I would suspect the reason most don't see plume is because the lighting conditions aren't bright enough to reveal it. Plume sparkles in the light, appears evenly distributed and is usually very fine particles, though I did see some that looked like they had small salt crystals on them. Nearly every cigar I have found in a B&M where the owner claimed plume, it was mold. I was actually chewed out by an employee of the B&M I used to frequent for saying there was mold on his cigars which is one of the many reasons I don't go there anymore. I think that most B&M's see that box of destruction and can't even consider the loss so they pawn them off to uneducated 'victims' as mold. I've only had 1 brand of cigar that's had plume and it was some Vega Fina Jose Sejas L.E.'s. They sparkled in the sun but was virtually undetectable in roomlight.
The pic by the OP is hair mold. Hair mold has no toxins so it's safe to smoke. Just wipe it off. However, all those other examples are toast.