Pipe Newb Questions

Yeah, I really wouldn't worry about all those things. Smoke it how you like it, and you'll get the hang of things as it goes. I do try getting more burn around the edges so i'll burn evenly, but it always tends to burn straight down the middle for me. Smoke, like Nick said--as long as it's burning/smoldering. Resistance--I almost can't smoke a cigar without my jaw hurting now because I love the light draw (I can still smoke a padron, but not much more tight draw than those).