That is an astute observation re: smokers. It's almost a mindful act if it weren't addictive and caught in the sleep of repetitive nervous actions / habits.

However, if awareness was brought to the act of smoking then it could be mindful. Gurdjieff a prominent esoteric / spiritual teacher in Paris in the 1940s would encourage his students to pick up a vice such as smoking in order to have something to struggle with. Struggle with awareness can create energy.