[darkleeroy]

I've heard in the past that the only similarities between pipe tobacco and cigar tobacco are what they are made of and that they're intended to be smoked.

Pipe tobacco has the benefit of a diverse geographic range compared to cigar tobacco. Whilst premium cigar tobacco come from a few countries with amazingly similar climates; pipe tobacco comes from all around the world. You have your Virginia's (which aren't just necessarily made in Virginia), Periques (Louisiana), Burley (Kentucky), Latakias (Cyprian and Syrian), and non-toasted Orientals (Mostly the around the Mediterranean). All of these come from vastly different climates and soil.

Likewise, there are many different ways to prepare pipe tobacco, toast or don't toast and the toppings applied; even packing could affect tastes: press in to flakes, medallions, loose ribbons, cake.

Cigar tobacco, on the other hand, comes from similar climates and is prepared similarly. Likewise, the variations of taste are much more subtle as a result. Likewise, apart from naturally controlled variables (shade/no shade; time to ferment; seed variances) cigars are unabridged and unmistakably tobacco first and foremost.

Neither is better than the other, it's merely a preference to like one or the other or both. Basically think of cigars as straight espresso shots, and pipe tobacco as the differences of coffee in general.

Likewise, find a simple list of every type of pipe tobacco that would interest you (for instance):

English
Balkan
Oriental
Virginia
VA-Per
Aromatic

And buy a tin or sample of tobacco of each to determine you're likes and dislikes. I'd imagine a full English Blend being the most complex, while an aromatic would be virtually tasteless.