OK - so nervously flicking the ash off is bad form. Having it grow until it falls on your host's leather chair is probably worse.
As a rule I touch the tip of the ash every now and then and let the ash fall gently in the ashtray. However when out walking on sitting in the park, I sometimes let is grow (as this "Partagas" would attest to).
If a cigar manages big ash, I get the sense that are quite well made, long fill, hand made and not floor sweepings or homogenized tobacco product. Other than that, no real advantage, other than "gee look at that". There seems to be a downside too - when the cigar finally lets go, it doesn't seem to burn as well, and in my experience sometimes just goes out.
So what's the consensus on ashing?
