Lodge's Blacklock line sells for about 2-3x more than a standard cast iron skillet, so it's hard to justify. While this is a highly subjective question, most people agree that the Blacklock line is good but does not justify the extra cost. This is so because the cooking experience is nearly identical to the standard skillet. This makes the Blacklock a luxury skillet and an excellent gift, but something that offers much less value than the normal Lodge.