I share the sentiments, both of them: smoke 'em while you got them, age them until their ready.
Can you have your cake and eat it too? Sure. Do like I do and WAY overspend. That way you have to age. There just aren't enough lungs in the house to herf my stash away.
That said, hey, the 26 series is ready to smoke right away. The tobacco and cigar are already aged nicely. Just make sure to adjust them to a humidity you like. Smoked one too damp and am still kicking myself.
John