Why don’t nicotine gum and patches work?

I can only believe it does not, since so many people still smoke. I am sure they are not just choosing to get cancer because it is fun. Smoking must be significantly better than either gum or patches. How so?
I understand that nicotine is highly addictive. What I mean is, since nicotine gum and patches contain nicotine, why can't smokers easily tolerate the switch to them? Why doesn't everyone get their nicotine through the cancer-free delivery methods gum and patches offer?