Yep. I don't think any of what I have seen so far has suggested that this grill can't do great food - as long as it is working safely and effectively. The grease fire issue is a very serious one. I guess as long as you switch to drip pans for most cooking - and
clean very regularly - you can avoid this. Not up to all the hype
but not a disaster either. As long as you do these things, that is. The hopper needs to be redesigned, in my opinion. It would be nice if Weber would make this right for early adopters. We will see. Like I said earlier, I would at least do what Dave has amazingly shown us. I think his mods (and fixing the bent metal he showed us
) would significantly alleviate the stopped up pellet flow problem. The ash scatter looks to me like it might take some more complicated technical corrections than I think many of us would be comfortable with - and really no buyer should have to do. Again, maybe Weber will offer to do a fix for early buyers' grills. Otherwise, if I had already bought one, I would be looking hard at the fixes being suggested here and elsewhere.
In the end, while the fiery steak grilling show back in November was very impressive, I think what the one reviewer said sums it up well. "Maybe you need two grills." I think with drip pans and some fixes to the hopper, the SmokeFire still looks to have potential as a low and slow smoker. Some experienced users are even saying better smoke than any other grill. This is how other pellet grills are used most of the time and it is probably how the SmokeFire should be as well. Then get yourself a nicely refurbished Genesis x000 or Silver/Gold/Platinum (better yet, refurb one yourself!). Add a nice stainless smoker box and - if you are like me about sear marks and less flare-ups - a set of GrillGrates. With these two grills, you will have everything you need. Even so, get a nice old red kettle...or two!
