I start with a punch on NCs and cut if needed.
It depends on the cap of the cigar I am smoking. If there is a nice cap, then I can cut it without worrying about unravelling. If the cap is barely there, then I punch so that unraveling is not an issue. I prefer to cut if I can though.
I take my cigar ballroom dancing then I find a quiet out of the way corner where I can seduce it, bite it and suck the life out of it.
always cut.