Cigars are pretty safe. You don't inhale. Arnold Schwarzenegger is smoking cigars daily for many decades and cigars are not giving him any troubles, while he have multiple heart operations (due to his steroids abuse back in the days).
I've had cubans (while in europe). I found them to be middling. I think it's the forbidden fruit aspect.
I am born and live in Europe whole my life. Cuban cigars are indeed middling. They are not bad, but they are severely overrated and overpriced. The forbidden fruit is exactly why they have a good reputation.
The Cuban valleys have the best climate for amazing tobacco. However the Cuban communist economy is ruining the potential of the Cuban cigars. I know because actually I am from Eastern Europe and lived through some communism (before it collapsed).
The quality of work in socialist/communist society is bad because there is no motivation to give your best (low wages and no private initiative). We had a saying in the commie times when everybody worked for the commie government (no private companies): "They lie to us that they pay us - we lie to them that we work".
That's exactly why Cuban cigars will stay middling and will never live up to their great potential as long the communist/socialist system stays.
By the way the majority of the biggest cigar names comes from Cuba - they escaped from communism and established great cigar brands. Communism/Socialism can't produce anything good. I watched documentaries from and for many private cigar companies. There is huge level of love for your business when you own it yourself. That's were the quality of the product comes from. It's impossible to have this under commie regime.
And an STD.