Yup, glorified pottery. And almost as frangible.
Also attractive to Maple Tree roots, as we learned decades ago. :)
Maples, or at least silver maples, were known for aggressive root growth, and finding water if it leaked out between clay sections, would cause them to increase their root growth in that direction, resulting in having to dig up ones’ front lawn to replace said drain pipe.
The tree was cut down with vigor.