Well... I wouldn't just, say, jam the straw in a dishwasher and call it a day... I'd probably sterylize the hell out of it first... and I would be every bit as thorough with an estate pipe.
There are definite benefits to smoking a used pipe... mainly the fact that it doesn't need to be broken in... all the chemicals are already leeched out of the bowl, it has built up it's heat resistance... both of which make it easier to establish a good cake after cleaning.