I suspect they also don’t really want to know how strong and obnoxious the smell is to the rest of us.

Only speaking for myself as a smoker: I can smell it very prominently indoors without powerful ventilation. I don’t like it for me and don’t want to inflict it on others. I either steer clear of people outdoors, or put it out if they’re going to be nearby. The only exception is if they want to interact with me individually while I’m smoking, then I stand as far away as I can for the interaction they invited.

I wish all smokers were as considerate as you are.

I think this changed with increase in non-smoking areas.

Back a few decades it was normal that cigarette smoke was everywhere. Trains, restaurants, offices, factories, at home, ... it was just normal. Nowadays in many places it is more notable.

When I was a child I hated going to restaurants in the winter because we'd have to sit in a cloud of smoke.

Otherwise at home and school there was no smoke.

Smoke was theoretically already forbidden everywhere but nobody cared.