Great post.  You've definitely been smoking longer than I've been alive.  I smoked for about 18 years and was up to 2 packs a day.  Tried everything to quit, Chantix, patches, lozenges, cold turkey more times than I can count.  I don't even remember how I came across an electronic cigarette 2 1/2 years ago and I had my doubts but honestly not one day went by since I started vaping where I really really missed an analog.