Just wanted to put this somewhere to show these plastic filters I used religiously for a long long long time. I bought them on ebay Tarblock brand being the best I found, but in a pinch found another brand at 1 store a few towns over. You can get 3 packs of 30 for about $12 + $3 shipping. 1 filter was good for 3 cigcigars (little cigars w/filters) I smoked.
I noticed a change in my lungs and less coughing from using these. So actually when I switched to ecigs I did not miss that tar/goopy gunk I got BEFORE using the plastic filters.
So that black gunk in there sort of looks and feels like cane syrup mixed with gelatin that kinda sticks your fingers together and smells like scrapings off the bottom of ashtray, just in case you're wondering.