FWIW, elcid... I use crisco for my pies and if you ask around these parts... the pies are very good. Flour, a little salt, Crisco and ice water to make the crust...
Mom: I do half Crisco, half butter. The Crisco for flakiness, the butter for flavor. Of course, like most things, some of my pies are disasters and some of my pies rock.
Even better if you take about 1/4th cup of that Crisco and replace it with ice cold bacon grease.