On a 22.5" kettle you can get better results for a lot less money. The better results are achieved by having a larger coal capacity that the Smokenator allows, more versatility on both hot coal starting and heat dissipation.
For years I when I had a 22.5" kettle I used 2 basic landscaping bricks stood on edge to dam up a bunch of unlit coals on one side of the kettle. The advantage here versus the Smokenator is you can adjust the bricks closer to or farther away from the kettle's side to increase or decrease coal capacity. The bricks serve as both coal containment and heat dissipator. With no cap on top, like the Smokenator, you are free to load coals up to the top of the grate.
For heat dissipation on top, I started off using a loaf pan full of water. One of the big complaints people have about the Smokenator is it's small water capacity. I used either a standard bread loaf or 9x9 pan filled with hot water placed on top of the grill above the coals. At least 4x the capacity of the Smokenator pan - and 2-3 hrs of heat dissipation before refilling. I eventually moved to a couple of firebricks, which absorb heat very well, and meant no more water pan. Worked like a charm.
On the One-Touch kettle systems I recommend you keep the bottom vents 1/2 - 2/3 open at all times. Foil the side of the charcoal grate that your drip pan will rest on to restrict airflow. I always got 5-6 hrs smoke times at 230-270 without touching a thing. I have gone as much as 8 hrs on a complete-to-capacity load.
While this is a good way to make your kettle a very capable smoker on-the-cheap, it is in no means a substitute for a WSM. And the Smokenator is a good product, that delivers very much as advertised. Many of us have just found a way to copy or exceed the results at far less cost. I have a large Green Egg and Bubba Keg kamados as my go-to devices for extended smoking. But had I not given my 22.5" kettle to a family friend I would have no hesitancy to use it for all my short-to-medium range cooks.
