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In this specific case, going outside would help reduce exposure to aerosolized saliva.

Imagine people at a bar. The smokers would stand outside in the cold, smoking, while the non-smokers inside are warmer but at higher risk of catching an infection.

Or kill you before you get to a vulnerable age.

it might work like a mask if you always inhale through a filter and an inferno.

It might even purify your second-hand smoke.

but yes, you have a very real point. I remember reading about some drug that seemed to give people heart attacks, but it actually cured what it was supposed to and heart attacks were the next statistically likely thing to get you.

That's pretty speculative given the amount of extra time a smoker might spend outside - combined with another speculative idea that small amounts of sun exposure has a meaningful impact on outcomes.

Seems more likely that nicotine itself might have a direct interaction, or that there is no benefit at all, and it's all just noise in the data.

Or cause sick people to avoid you. If I have a cold, no way I'm standing next to a smoker.

Cause more than just sick people to avoid you. And people can see how far your smoke spreads so there's a visible warning to keep your distance.