I think what is fascinating about that link is the encapsulated discussion around the Cuban cigar industry, post Castro. The post-Castro Cuban government nearly destroyed the Cuban cigar business - but later recognized their mistake and have been trying to re-establish the industry dominance they once had.

Those that have sampled Cuban cigars know the good and bad. Plugged cigars - "sick" period (due to lack of full aging), etc. Cuba has a history of issues with quality of their cigars, no doubt. And in that void (largely due to the mass exodus of master blenders and rollers) the NC market has made significant strides.

"Piloto Cubano", "Cuban Seed", etc. is a means of marketing cigars that one would fondly associate with Cuban cigars. While the specific strain of tobacco plant plays into the overall quality of the end product - one thing is certain. That same plant, regardless of its origin or strain - planted in different regions (including different areas within Cuba) - has a characteristically different flavor due to the soil and growing conditions. While "Cuban Seed" plants are good - where they are grown is equally (if not more) important. Much like wine making grapes.

There is little doubt - Cuban tobacco has a flavor profile that is all it's own. Certainly inexperienced Cuban cigars smokers are drawn by the mystique of sampling the "forbidden fruit" - but many continue to seek them out because of the flavor (that is - as long as the first Cubans they smoked were not counterfeit ).

Personally - there are a number of NC cigars I enjoy much better than most Cuban cigars. And I've been stunned by some Cuban cigars other seem to dismiss (i.e. - not the usual fare of Montecristo #2's, Koh-Hee-Bah's, Partagas or RyJ). Unlike others, though - I do not waste my time smoking cigars for the simple necessity of wanting to smoke SOMETHING. Just as I do not drink Boone's Farm wine because I want to drink...

Bottom line - smoke what you enjoy - enjoy what you smoke.

And try as you might to believe otherwise - only small amounts of Cuban tobacco makes it out of the country for export elsewhere. Think about it - Cuba is having a heck of a time keeping up with demand for their finished cigars - It's completely unimaginable it's more lucrative for them to export the unrolled tobacco... The Cuban tobacco industry has always used the best tobacco for its own finished products - leaving literally an export of scrap and waste.