Found this post and as a new recruit to the forum I thought I'd add my short, simple story.
For decades I'd been a dedicated 'griller'....certainly not a week would pass without something coming from the grill, and most weeks, several 'cookouts' per week.
Maybe 7-8 years ago my youngest daughter (bless her soul!!) bought me a small electric smoker that looked like one of those old-timey electric 'roasters'. Well it was love at first smoke, and over a period of years, despite caring for my baby with religious fervor, it finally rusted-out. Replacement parts weren't to be found, and the unit was no longer sold.
I was BUMMED.... so began my search (Internet of course given the age) for a new one. Stainless steel was my first priority, and fitting the designated space on my porch/deck (wife calls it my outdoor kitchen...but not fancy enough to deserve such a name) was second.
I examined closely the offerings of several makers, reading reviews about them, checking out their forums if they had one, etc. It pretty easily narrowed down to Smokin-it and now I have a new 'love at first smoke'. Despite living on the water (salt that is), I'm thinking the cabinet will still be in bristol shape when it becomes an inventory item in my 'estate'. I stocked up on several temperature controllers and heating elements, so I should be good to go for as long as I'm good to go.