If aging, it's best to age slowly with less air exchange. That's the only reason I leave them on when sitting them down for a long, long rest. Otherwise, if I plan on smoking them soon, I take them out of the cello. It's good to ship with the cello because it protects the wrapper from damage, which is the only reason they use it to begin with.
The cigars sitting next to one another tasting the same is not exactly correct. It is perpetuated by the one and only Marvin Shankin. That can't happen for years and years and years. Like 20. Most of us smoke them too fast.
Oh, and being a curmudgeon is underrated!
