Yeah, nicotine is a mild stimulant; it's really not a big deal, which is why it is mostly tolerated. The bad interpersonal effects actually come from stopping nicotine, which makes people grumpy, but it doesn't last very long.

The problem is that it's a slow burn because it's consumed by smoking, and this is really the most pleasant way to consume it. People don't like the externalities associated with it, and that's pretty much it.