I am an ex-smoker. I stopped - let me think - about 1991 or 1992 having smoked between 10 and 20 a day from about 1967. It was not I who introduced the element of comparison - "no sadder than" involves comparison.

Patsy, IIRC roll-ups are less toxic. Something to do with saltpetre in the paper.

I have no objection to smoking - sometimes smoker visitors to my house are surprised that I am embarrassed by the idea that I would make them go to smoke outside. Very inhospitable, that would be.