I think I know what you mean, and I think it's because the smoking itself provided something to the experience that vaporizing doesn't. I remember smoking, and one or two puffs from a joint would set off a coughing spell that would leave me gasping and saying, "Wow, this is good stuff. I'm baked." But I was simply stunned by the poisonous components that smoke contains.

I have not tried the Herbalaire. I've tried the Da Buddha and the Vapor Genie. Of the two, I think the Vapor Genie more closely mimicks the smoking experience.