I was planning on a less expensive cookshack but my wife convinced me to spend a bit more for the temp probe feature of the Amerique. IMO, I wouldn't buy a model w/o the probe. You will produce great 'que w/o any significant effort.
Friday I brought lunch for 20+ folks at work. I put 4 butts in my Amerique the day before, set the temp. and had perfect que the next morning. No checking, no timing the butts required. When I got up yesterday morning they were already done and holding. My wife brought them to me 6 hours later. The rave reviews are still coming in.
Dave