Sounds like bullshit to me. I'm not inhaling food into my lungs, and I also don't smoke a pack of ribs per day.
Amusing isn't it? People will whine about cigarettes, but happily eat smoked food.
Pro tip; It isn't the tobacco in cigarettes that's bad for you(barring the flue cured varieties). It's the smoke. That also applies to smoked food, smoked whisky, and anything else prepared over fire.
Sounds like bullshit to me. I'm not inhaling food into my lungs, and I also don't smoke a pack of ribs per day.
You don't need an expensive or complex smoker to make awesome Q. You need to learn how your smoker cooks, how it uses fuel and how to control the temps. You will have to do this with any smoker you buy regardless of price.
ECB (El Cheapo Brinkmans) can be good cookers with some tweaking. What as your target temp?
Biggest issue with an ECB is not the thin walls but all the leaks. Need to plug the leaks and keep it out of the wind if possible. 210F is a good target temp. If you are a little over or under you're OK.
http://virtualweberbullet.com/
I've been using the 18 1/2" version for a few years and love it: http://www.amazon.com/Weber-721001-S.../dp/B001I8ZTJ0
You'll also want a chimney starter if you don't already have one: http://www.amazon.com/Weber-7416-Rap.../dp/B000WEOQV8
I already have a chimney starter.
I know that Weber makes great products but you pay a substantial amount for them. My cheap Brinkmann smoker cost a less than a quarter of what a Weber would have cost. Quality isn't the same but I want to see how much I like smoking and how much use I get out of it before plunking down $300.
You could check craigslist. My Weber is as functional as it was brand new, so if you can find a used one in decent shape for $150 or less, that might be a good way to go.