I mean, I feel like saying they said the phrase ‘I am sorry’ makes it true that it is an apology in the most literal sense, but it is sort of an asinine point, in my opinion. The comment you replied to was, from what I read into it, is saying the execs at unity didn’t regret their choice, just that they were catching flak. They would absolutely have left the original policy change in place if it wasn’t for the fact that it was going to tank their revenue. If they ever felt they could get away with this again at some point in the future, then they absolutely will try this again. It is a good victory for those who called them out, but they are not sorry that they tried and probably will try similar things in the future.
To me, it helps to think of corporate America as an abuser (because they are). Sure, the abuser can say I’m sorry again and again every time they harm you, but at what point is it not really an apology? If they keep trying (and often succeeding) in doing it, then at, some point, I think I wouldn’t be satisfied with a hollow gesture.
The problem with your analogy though is that the doctor does have plans to actually help the problem too. It takes more time and effort to set up all the things needed to properly heal a bone, so in the mean time they try to help alleviate the symptoms in the mean time. The system’ in place has no plans to actually address the real issues, so it’s more like the doctor sent you out the door with painkillers and calls that good enough. Creating laws that attempt to curb cigarette habits might be worth pursuing if paired with actual legislation to handle the causes that drive people to their use.
Also, to me, it is worth looking at some of the other reasons people are draw to smoking. Tobacco companies pour tons of money into methods of encouraging smoking and vaping, with it being well know that some of this is targeted at young people. To be honest, and some may find this a bit of a stretch, I sometimes feel that these laws are a sort of collective societal victim blaming more then a benefit.
As another point, and I don’t know if you know this, but banning something does not necessarily curb it’s use (see alcohol prohibition in the US in the early 20th century). If anything prohibition just deregulates it, making it more dangerous for those who still continue to participate.