Why Don't All Smokers Switch To The Electronic Cigarette

Smoking has been pretty well declared as dangerous in the Western world for over a generation now, so the people left smoking cigarettes generally fall into a few groups.

Lifetime Smokers: These are people who were smoking before they knew it was bad, it is as much a part of their identity as driving cars and wearing pants. For them it is probably too late to quit for any health benefit and they are in it more for the sameness than anything else.

Social Smokers: Sometimes they are full on addicts other times it is just an occasional vice, these people smoke for the social aspect - having something to do with your hands, standing around on the patio with other smokers, etc etc. Electronic cigarettes have none of the requirements of regular cigarettes (open space, lighters, neighbors who can't smell) so it doesn't create the same sort of interesting social situation. Offering someone a cigarette is a pretty risk free opening, but offering them a hit of your e-cig seems more like roping them into a whole thing.

People who love smoking - These people love something about smoking enough that they literally do not care about the consequences. Depending on what part of it they love, these are the most likely to become E-cig users, since they are searching for some specific effect or feeling. For others it is the taste and the sensory ritual that goes along with smoking and they do not want to lose that.

Another important point is that cigarette smokers generally do not have above average impulse control. E-cigs make sense in a delayed gratification sort of way, you have to pay a lot up front but then you make it back in savings over the long run. It also requires a lot of tweaking and tinkering, whereas there is literally nothing more simple burning a cigarette.

Finally electronic cigarettes are a little complicated TBH. Walk into any gas station on early and had the guy a few bucks and you are gonna have the same cigarette experience. E-cigs vary widely in their parts, as well as quality. There are all kinds of models and flavors, and overall it is not as casual as the experience of buying cigarettes.