Bob, you're absolutely right. I want to add something. In more detailed pipes (head like, sultan, etc.) pipe craftsmen use paraffin to soften the meerschaum after they obtain the rough work. They use water to soften the material for the rough work. Paraffin made material soft but not soft as water made, so they can handle fine work on the pipe. In the last stage beeswax also provides a little yellowish tonicity.
Formerly, plain pipes are not considered as a pipe here so people used to smoke very detailed inlaid pipes but that pipes lost their popularity in last few decades.