This is clearly not everyone's cup of tea but I honestly think nicotine has been given an overly bad reputation by the anti-smoking lobbyists. As for being more addictive than heroin, statements like these should be placed in a proper context. At some point in my life I was regularly dipping tobacco all day long for over a year. It was an addiction but I was able to quit very easily. Now I no longer abuse these products and only use them as a stimulant occasionally. I have no problems with addiction though understand that some people might react differently to nicotine.

As for vitamin based stimulants and herbs, they never seemed to work. Just like black tea, a slight feel-good buzz and that's it. Caffeine chewing gum does work but compared to nicotine the boost doesn't last long and has too many side effects in my experience. Rapid energy drain being the most dangerous. That doesn't happen with nicotine. I've been able to go on for a whole night without sleep on two or three portions of snus. I find it pretty amazing that it doesn't interfere with my fine motor skills nearly as much as caffeine, plus it makes me mentally sharper and better at solving tasks.

I just don't know of any other commonly available stimulant that would be as effective and with so few negative effects. Compared to amphetamine-based stimulants used by the military I think it's pretty innocent, too.