I appreciate all the input from you guys on this subject. Lowering my rh definitely made a difference but not completely. I touched on the subject with Paddy after receiving a newb sampler from him. After providing him with a few additional details, I think he nailed what I was doing wrong. So far, I've noticed a difference with no splitting, cooler burn, and even better taste. Time will tell, but I'm feeling confident. Here's Paddy's take:

Quote Originally Posted by Paddy
I think I just might have figured out what your problem is. The triple torch lighter gave it away.
There is an art to lighting a cigar. A triple torch makes it difficult to do. I believe you are making a cherry far too deep into the cigar and the hot air & gases are causing your cigar to split. Use a single flame torch, run it clockwise around the rim (create something that looks like an eclipse of the sun; a ring of fire around the rim). Blow on it, then light the filler; run the flame clockwise around the filler and then blow on it to create a good cherry. NEVER LET THE FLAME TOUCH THE TOBACCO! Hold it a few inches away. Lighting a cigar should take 2-3 minutes, not 30 seconds. Then put the cigar in your mouth hit it again quickly with the torch (again, do not let the flame touch the cigar). Remove it and blow on the cherry again. NOW smoke it.

When you are over lighting a cigar (blow-torching the filler, or pushing the flame into the filler), you create a cherry that is further into the cigar than it should be (lets say .5-1 inches as opposed to .25-.5). That large cherry stays even after the light is over. Thus, your filler is burning further down the lenght of the cigar than the wrapper and binder. Again all that hot air and gases need to go somewhere.......split wrappers