I'm not arguing against the smoking ban at all, read the thread. Your experience of pubs seems to be as a little boy filled with wonder and excitement at being taken out for tea there by your parents and probably winning the quiz night at your local in your little, white, middle class town.
Pubs are shutting down for a number of reasons, a lot of it to do with prices, people just can't afford to go out as often as they did 4-5 years ago. Going to the pub is a social thing and when you've got to cut down on things that is the first to go.