Smoking

[Ahriman]

Not necessarily.  A healthy cigarette alternative could be invented by anyone.

And people get rich off many unhealthy things: cars, sugar, fast food, alcohol etc.  It seems that vice is a good route to profit.  People like such things.

Yeah, that's true. It's been done. There are herbal cigarettes, clove cigarettes, light cigarettes, etc. They all suck, especially lights. People enjoy things that are addictive. Addictive things are pretty much always going to be bad for you. Cigarettes are extremely addictive, and also very bad for you. Can't be helped.