I used the patch - I quit on Sept. 1, 1992, and have not had one cigarette since. The secret, I think, was to start with a patch that was not too strong. I used the 14 mg patch for 4 wks., and the 7 mg patch for 2 weeks. I had NO nicotine cravings, but the "habits" cravings were kind of bad - like when you would normally reach for a cigarette and can't. Lighting up after a meal in a restaurant would be a prime example.
It was very easy, and that's saying a lot for me - I was the type of smoker who could not go to bed without knowing how many cigarettes I had to get through the night. I smoked at least 1-1/2 packs a day.
"It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt." Mark Twain ;-)