I don't see
vaping ever becoming one (and the same) as BT, though possibly could if BT changes to BN. For now, they make a product that many (millions) of vapers despise. Even if all other
vaping gear was magically regulated out of existence (in some fairytale world), these same people would not suddenly like BT and BT's vaping gear. Some might, most would not. In that hypothetical world, I believe all despisers would quit vaping cold turkey and live happily ever after.
But BT is a very large industry within American economy and because they 'know nicotine,' they have reason to be in the vaping industry. Good reason. I can somewhat understand that if you are in place of 'hating BT and everything they stand for' that you'd carry that over to hating all their BV products, just cause of how prejudice works. Or I can (more) understand how after trying really nice independent vaping gear and then trying/comparing that to BT vaping gear, you'd conclude that BT deserves no respect in terms of quality with their available resources.
But challenging to understand how BT is inherently evil as if that is not strictly biased opinion. Challenging to understand how you don't think 'big money' will be beneficial to all the businesses that, collectively, are growing into tens of millions of users. It is fascinating to me that BT is hated more for their role in the industry than the thieves who steal and distribute clones. Clones aren't 'independent do-gooders.' I realize that's debatable, but I bring it up, cause there are a bunch of things in the unregulated market that exists to date whereby lots of players of all sorts of sizes and creeds can be involved and really is up to the buyer, and not anything else.
I truly believe having BT in vaping industry offers them a sense of redemption, especially with where vaping could go / is predicted to go. For sure, it offers them another opportunity to manipulate product, deceive customers and bribe politicians/scientists to agree that there way is good for everyone, but I truly think BT learned that lesson, and is still getting beaten up daily (in an over zealous way) by so many resources, that it would literally be suicidal to think it might just work the next time if they try it again.
I think any business sitting down with regulators for more than 2 minutes, is going to present regulators with their version of 'reasonable regulations.' Both BT and BV have done this, and thus far based on proposed regulations, it appears to screw the little guy. At same time, if it was little guy (with legitimate shop) and me making product in my bathtub, and we were both at a local town hall meeting deciding on the future of distribution in the community, I'm thinking this 'little guy' would screw me left and right based on my methods which don't match their fancy schmancy ways of doing business. Even while I am outselling them before regulations go into place. Even while my service is actually better. Nature of the game when money and politics is involved. Why do we have a thread about "where is the outcry from vendors" and another thread with CASAA member taking time to squarely address all vendors, if these independent vendors are soooo wonderful for the vaping community? Fact is, we have some vendors that are dedicated to long term distribution, some that provide excellent customer service, and many others that realize this industry is selling a hot commodity and with a little business sense, a profit can surely be made.
To think all of little V is wonderful and helpful, while all of big V is evil and greedy, I find is out of touch with reality. Said it before and will say it again, you could remove all of current players that are Big V from the industry, and new players would quickly emerge as BV. All that is disdainful about BT/BV would be found in those same companies. Many of which are squarely little V right now, and are arguably being of enormous help to the cause.
Nature of the beast.
