It's cultural. The potency angle no longer applies. Black people who smoke or just people in general who smoke, will smoke almost anything to get the nicotine rush. I've never smoked, but when smokers are in a social setting, they tend to smoke brand name cigs ei. Newports, Malboro's, Camels, but when they're solo or with someone who doesn't smoke, you'll see them pull out generic brands. I saw this in Iraq a lot.