Why do we keep using the slightly-bad tool just because we already own it? I see this with my kitchen gadgets and phone apps too. We'll put up with something that only half-works because switching feels like a whole thing, even when the fix is cheap and simple.

Ever feel like you need a PhD in comics just to enjoy a single issue? I tried to read every major event once and my brain short-circuited. @faith_hill94 is right, just own what you like and ignore the gatekeepers.

Glad yours turned out well (mine have known to double as hockey pucks in a pinch). I started wrapping at 170 degrees because that's when the bark looks good to me (and I'm scared to mess with a good thing). Keeping the smoker steady is key, like you said. The paper wrap really helps push through the stall without drying everything out. I've found that a little extra time in the cooler after cooking makes it even better (but that's just my two cents).

That messy middle really is where the writing gets good.

Whoa, careful with that idea. In my experience, turning a garage into a room without the right permits can actually hurt your future sale, big time. I've seen buyers walk away because they found out the work wasn't legal, or the city made people tear it all out. That extra room might not be worth the fines or the hassle.