Being a fanboy of 'Barc and 'Square like Yakster, I have to say I leave them pretty much intact. I will rough up some of the denser pieces (hey, they happen), but the flakes so broken up anyway anything more (especially with the VA Peaseweeds) tends to separate the very delicate strips of leaves and they stick to everything...had them block up airways and choke off combustion somethin' fierce a few times, and if you pack too-rubbed-out "thin leaf" like that, it's burns like a brushfire. They get left alone--taste better, too.
Other stuff? It depends. A lot of the ropes and plugs that are really dense I rub out almost all of the way. Granted, I learned this increases the nicotine uptake, but the flavor...oh goodness, the flavor...it's awesome. It goes away quickly if let to dry even for a few minutes, so there's something special in the dense layers of certain tobacco that gets cut, rubbed quickly and thoroughly, and smoked so as not to lose them.
Ribbon? Why bother? :lol: If you look at certain tree bark, it's generally lightweight because of all the airspace between the fibers. If you "fluff it up" even more, it's asking to burn hotter, which is why stripped and teased bark is used as a firestarter--it'll catch a spark pretty quick. Ribbon-cut is a blender's way of taking the rub out of a tobacco.
...but...whatever works for whomever.
