smoke @ top of door

I do not think it is making a difference in the smokes/cooks. You need to use it more and alot of it will stop, but mine still leaks a small amount from around the door after 5 years. I wouldn't worry about it, but I would use the smoke hole for the probe.

Not to be silly, but smokers smoke The smoker is made to "create" a seal after it's manufacturered. If that seasoning wore off (from probe wires?) from when it created a seal, that could be the leak.

But it's zero issue. Wisps of smoke out the door won't impact the overall quality.

Put the probes down through the hole and see if it goes away, if you're worried. If not, just keep on smokin'