You get to mingle with the crowd trying to check their luggage curbside.
Ahh .. the benefits of smoking!
BTW .. it is a City of Chicago regulation (not just ORD). The American Airlines had smoking lounges in the Admirals Club and Flagship Lounge which the city made them close down.
Now you require a drag .. you gotta go landside and then come back thru security.
Hope you don't have a 35 minute connection!