Had smoked analogs for over 35 years when I quit last year. Was up to over 3 packs per day, but most of those laid in the ashtray and burned up. Friends gave me a hard time about never ever burning a cigarette down to the end, but oh well, the lighting and first drags was the main thing for me..
Can't remember the cost when I first started, but I can remember that I could go to the corner store and get a pack of cigs, a hot dog and a cold drink for $1 with tax included, so must have been cheap.
My uncle once told me when we were talking about the price hikes, "Well, I guess they are just now finding out what they're worth ! "
He passed away over 20 years ago having fought lung cancer for 17 years... on the last day, as he lay there dying, he was wanting a cigarette. Sad, but true.
Another anecdote... we used to joke around with some friends of ours that we needed to invent a way to still smoke once we were all on oxygen, and we all felt that day would come. Well, thanks to my ecig, maybe that day won't come, at least not for a long while.
Good vapin to you all !