It is actually old news, and we've read studies on nicotine absorption before. Yes to both above. Juul did two things well, or horrendous, depending on your point of view. #1 worked with a lab to create the first nicotine salts that deliver more nicotine faster like a cigarette, and #2 lots of marketing. As for #1, well there are so many choices of refillable pod systems now, and nicotine salts that are cheaper, I really don't know what the remaining appeal is of Juul other then maybe #2. It's a name people have heard, it's hip, etc.
Unfortunately, come May 2020, Juul may remain one of the few e-cig options left on the market, but that's for a whole other reason discussed in length under the FDA deeming regulations threads.