The need was there without the TC lies. vaping would've happened anyway, the lies just sped up the process of people switching to them.
If e-cigs were invented by Hon Lik to help with his and other people's smoking addiction, after smoking killed or helped kill his father, in China, a country where smoking was widesperead and not being attacked, he still might have been motivated in part by an opportunity he saw brought on by the war on smoking in the West. But maybe not. Either way, they'd still have been invented and likely improved upon, similar to how they have been.
Almost exactly what I thought after reading Luisa's reply, including Hon Lik part, before reading yours. Thanks!