The thermostat for my single-zone A/C house is in the den but I'd much prefer it in the master bedroom or the living room. However, I don't look at the compromise inherent in selecting a location for it and see that as an excuse to not install one at all. Imagine if home builders said "there's no conclusive agreement as to thermostat placement, therefore we won't install one at all."
Sure, ideally a house would have multiple zones and a thermostat in every room, some rooms more than one. Likewise a smoker should have at least one thermometer at every grate, maybe one by the fire pit and possibly multiple thermometers at the grates since the center tends to run cooler than the edges. But clearly the darn thing should have at least one thermometer somewhere, and the WSM does not come with one at all and that's a glaring omission.
It would have taken all of a copuple extra dollars to pop one in the lid or the side perhaps between the grates.