I think it would be very bad narratively if Smoker didn't overcome the weakness that Vergo exploited in his fight.
He needs to use an awakening to create a second layer of smoke-screen.
The original problem was the entire smoke cloud became his body. By awakening, he can begin to make smoke clouds that are not part of his body to mix in.
Awakening: Your abilities will begin to affect things other than your own body.
I think the entire point of the Smoke-Smoke Fruit is to allow whoever uses it to have an advanced Logia response beyond the normal one which Vergo exploited in his previous fight.
The Smoke Smoke Awakening = Overcoming The Logia Response Weakness to Haki Users.
Haki Users will not be able to hit him as easily anymore after that.