I would be curious what other dual users, like myself, have to add to this discussion.
I do think addictive personalities make more sense than blanket statement of nicotine is addictive. When I went cold turkey from smoking (for 8 years), I also didn't use anything that might trigger smoking (so zero alcohol drinks during that time). But I still experienced addictions.
As a dual user, I don't crave smoking. I (like most of you) know EXACTLY what it is like to crave a smoke. That used to be a daily phenomenon and generally occurred 5+ times a day, with the other 15 or so smokes that day being in vein of "now's as good of a time as any." Now, as a dual user, I can have up to 5 smokes in day (usually have less than 2) and I am never craving a single one of those. You'd think if nic was addictive, and I was pumping as much as I do via vaping that I'd experience the cravings for smoking regularly. I think in last 6 months, I've maybe (only maybe) craved a smoke once. You'd for sure think a smoker who's experienced cravings for a smoke, and who is now smoking, would experience cravings for a smoke. I do not. Knowing my history with cold turkey, if I were to gamble on whether or not I could stop smoking over the next 30 days, I'd be collecting a lot of money from anyone foolish enough to make such a wager with me. But it would have to be a worthwhile wager, cause moderate smoking rocks that much.
I do feel that I am addicted to vaping, and do think nic is a contributing factor, but as has already been said in this thread, it is way more the ritual aspect than nic. The nic is just icing on the cake, and I enjoy nicotine. I don't see it as harmless, but compared to the umpteen million other things that one can be addicted to, I do see it as tame. Sugar is for me more addictive, and even work at times. Both of those are not harmless, and can have adverse effects that are made visible. With nicotine, and in age of vaping, it is hard to see the effects in a troublesome way. Like if someone were addicted to reading. That would be tame, and would be unlikely to have noticeably adverse effects. I think a reading addiction would be more tame than nic, but not by a lot.
People routinely act as if "addiction" is a bad word, but all the "good things" that people are clearly addicted to seemingly slip under the radar as if that's perfectly fine. Chances are very good, the word "addiction" doesn't even come up, and is treated like "something I really enjoy doing, often." Imagine, for just a moment, that this is what vaping is, for the majority: something that people really enjoy doing, often. Sounds a lot nicer than, "you hopeless addict."
