Sniffing does annoy me but have been in one of those climate controlled airconditioned places last week, can't open any windows and very stuff and dry atmosphere and have found myself with an irritate nose all week...been annoying myself lol :)
I have allergic rhinitis/hayfever and I don't sniff often, it's my eyes that stream!
I mean the perennial sniff which makes you want to pass them some tissues.
I work with a bloke who makes a horrible throat-clearing noise from time to time and he doesn't smoke, it makes me want to gag, it sounds very "productive".
there's not one, but two blokes that work in the same office as me that are always clearing their throats. It's like a Phlegm off across the office some days!