Jacob and Smokie are two very powerful, very unexplained aspects of the island. I see smokie as being a man made technologically advanced being, where as I believe Jacob is a real, life-made entity.
Jacob must have some malicious power in him though, or else he wouldn't me locked up. And how long ago was that, anyways? Did Ben lock him up? I don't think Ben has enough power to do that alone, but no one else has seen Jacob. Was Jacob trapped long before Dharma strolled in? Or did Jacob trap himself? I like that one... maybe he abused his power and hurt people, like say Carrie, and put himself away to end the damage. But now he's sick of it. Eh. Okay it doesn't really fit... Gosh I just don't know!
I agree with the "I don't know" part.
