Have not read the article, but I think "Big Tobacco" is something of a scapegoat for a larger pattern, and basically they were just unlucky enough to produce one of the most harmful products (recognized as such once the health bills started coming due).
(edit - I may add the product probably wouldn't be so harmful if people kept their consumption to under five cigarettes a day.)
(edit - I may add the product probably wouldn't be so harmful if people kept their consumption to under five cigarettes a day.)