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It certainly seems like the vape industry set back social progress on this front significantly. Cigarettes stopped being cool quite a while ago, and smoking is almost never allowed indoors anymore, but hey, look these e-cigarettes are safe and trendy and all the cool kids are doing them.

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Social progress is prohibition or freedom of choice?

What's the harm?

I think the harm is probably in the re-normalisation of nicotine addiction.

I smoked for a long time, and went on a vape recently, but the ads everywhere (in Ireland/UK) for various vaping services and devices are pretty concerning.

For me, it's harm reduction, but if non-smokers start vaping, that's a net loss.

Is addiction a problem, separate from cancer?

Coffee addiction is preventable, for instance.

I think vaping is a genuine improvement, provided that the law treats it like it does tobacco, i.e. no advertising, age restrictions, etc. This is an anecdote, but in countries where those restrictions are in place, just about every vaper seems to be an ex-smoker, and nobody thinks vaping is cool or attractive.

Yup, completely agreed.

Not sure that's what will happen though.

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