Or even, not really a priority at all

too right. As my dad always said "if you're going to get into body scarification, you better go all the way, and do it up right"

In the same way that non-smokers just don't understand.

Actually, even as a non-smoker, I understand smoking. One willfully ingests a substance that makes him/her feel a certain way.

And I think I even understand the appeal of getting a tattoo. It's a way of saying something about yourself... in a permanent way. Like thenewgreen, my tastes and attitudes tend to change with time. And knowing that, I don't think I could accurately choose something that I could still agree with at age 40, 60, or 80.

The permanence of the thing is the catch. You're right on the money - if you want to pierce something - go for it. When you change your mind later, it's a tiny hole somewhere on your body. When you change your mind about a tat - you're either getting it removed ($$$ + Pain) or you're getting it blacked out... which... probably also means $$$ + pain.

To say I don't understand might be a bit much. To say I don't see the logic in a permanent body alteration might be more accurate. Too many close friends regret their youthful tattoo choices and spend the remainder of adulthood dealing with it, with either hiding, lasers, or blackouts.