I wade into this with some fear and trepidation, but I would like to offer a few comments:
A pellet kettle is actually a nice thing. I have the oddball Landmann one that I have posted about. It is not capable of the ultra-high heats the Bullseye delivers, but, with it slide open shield, it is still capable of doing basic high heat grilling.
I have also turned out some really good low and slow BBQ pork shoulders and ribs with this little grill. I agree with Larry that if I only had 1 pellet grill, this wouldn't be my first choice. But for a second pellet grill, it offers some nice versatility in a very small package. Where Landmann came up short and Recteq delivered in my opinion is making it the right size. My Landmann has a diameter of about 21 inches, frustratingly a hair short of accommodating Weber kettle attachments. Recteq was smart to make them interchangeable. I agree with Tom Horsman at least to the extent that the creator of the kettle grill surely could make a really nice pellet version.
SMOKEFIRE
I have no stones to throw at the SmokeFire's cooking abilities. We have seen too much great looking cooks to not be impressed. However, I also think that operator error aside, there have been some really disappointing aspects of the rollout of this innovative grill. I don't think they tested it anywhere near as much as they claimed, and premature failure of way too many components really hurts. I have had my Recteq RT-700 for 5+ years and have only had to replace the igniter (free even though I was not the original owner!).
I know using the expression "market failure" is a loaded one. Nonetheless, I at least have to feel that in spite of an innovative design, the SmokeFire did NOT succeed in the marketplace. When you consider that you cannot see and touch one at virtually any major retailer, and the fact that Lowes - the one retailer that did give it some real floor space - has completely banished it - and its accessories, from a market penetration perspective it is hard to see the SmokeFire as a success. It definitely did not move into the ranks with Traeger, Pit Boss, Camp Chef, Recteq or other popular pellet grills.
Again, I am not at all discounting the great food the SmokeFIre is capable of (at least when everything is working). I am just saying it doesn't seem to have worked out well for Weber. All the returns, warrant replacements, and dedicated customer service staffing has had to have cost them a ton. I would cite the expected arrival of a new Weber pellet grill with a different name as some evidence to support what I am saying.
I think it is very interesting that Recteq took an extra-long time to roll out some new models. Looking at them, they took a very conservative overall approach, keeping many of the traditional elements in most of the new offerings including a solid heat/grease drain shield, a smokestack, and even the unloved grease bucket. I personally think Recteq was very spooked by what happened with the SmokeFire rollout and decided to go carefully. Not sure what I think about a "dual" chamber grill, and the "Flagship" mode - while boasting higher heat - doesn't make me feel left behind with my 5+ year old RT-700. It will be interesting to see how well these sell for Recteq.
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One last comment. Although I have not been privileged to own or cook on a SmokeFire, I can see the advantages of the "open" concept in producing a better smoke profile. I just wonder, however, if Camp Chef's slide-in smoke box concept won't turn out to be a better way to get similar - maybe even better - results:
The biggest complaint that people have when it comes to pellet grills is that they don’t use “real” wood or put off enough smoke. The Woodwind Pro from Camp Chef promises to fix that complaint.
www.smokedbbqsource.com
