Re-reading some of these posts brought a new question to mind. Although I understand the fire risk of someone throwing a cigarette off of their balcony -- why would the danger be less if the same thing was done from an outside smoking area anywhere on the ship?

I'm not suggesting that the entire ship go non-smoking, just wondering if, rather than a fire hazard, it has more to do with the smoke wafting into the neighbor's balcony (note: I am a non-smoker who would love to see a way where both smokers and non-smokers could be accommodated).