I'm brand new here and am fairly ignorant about cigars. I have a question but perhaps a little background is in order.

I grew up in the 60's & 70's and my personal experience with cigars began in the mid-late 70's. I left off around 1980 and just recently renewed my interest in them.
My dad didn't smoke them but he had friends who did and I remember seeing a good many of the smaller sort with wood or plastic tips but some smoked corona sized cigars.
Maybe they didn't know better or didn't care but they were all "gas station cigars", as far as I know.

I remember hearing the phrase "cigar shaped" from time to time and I remember seeing cigars with tapering ends. The only modern cigar that I have seen with that shape is a King Edward Imperial.

Did the tapered ends go out of style? Had it only been a feature of cheap cigars? All handmade cigars seem to have straight sides, so was it only a gimmick to help sell machine made cigars? The tapered end does seem easy to light and if one is outdoors that's a plus.