Stormrider: I haven't used a pellet smoker, but have been around people using Traeger pellet smokers, and can smell the creosote. I can just imagine how the meat tastes. I have been smoking almost as long as you. I have been using the Cookshack smokers close to 30 years now. I currently have the SMO45, and the SMO66. Both of these are great. I fit 5 full briskets in the 66 and get a good smoke flavor on them with 8 oz. of wood spread out over 4 hours. I can hot smoke, and cold smoke in my smokers. These units are basically set them and forget them. I am looking at the SmokeShack PG 1000. Yes I smoke and grill in the ice and snow of Idaho.