I have one. I like it a lot. I don't think they can hit quite the quality as a manual charcoal / wood vertical smoker except possibly at brands the higher end (

I have one. I like it a lot. I don't think they can hit quite the quality as a manual charcoal / wood vertical smoker except possibly at brands the higher end (above $2000, mine cost about 1/4 of that), especially if you like a deep rich smoke flavor, but for the convenience you get for the ease of use if you don't have the time to hone your pit skills (not to say a pellet grill doesn't have its own learning curve), I think it's worth the trade-off. Also, they are electro-mechanical devices kept in the outdoors and prone to the malfunction that you'd expect if not carefully maintained. Good companies have strong warranties, but some don't.