I remember when my friends in university declared in an outrage that they'd quit smoking if ever a pack were to reach 2,5€. Now they go for around 5€ depending of brand and I don't think anyone quit on account of that. It's surely a nice earner for the state but then again it's also the state that cares for cancer patients.
I was never a smoker except when really drunk or a period when I enjoyed Cohiba cigarillos, also mainly when drinking . There's something about smoking that sometimes suits the moment, gives you something to do when on a rest from the bike admiring a scenery I guess.