This is a really interesting and informative thread.
All I know is that every smoker I have ever cooked on had it's own personality.
Even a pair of WSMs or FECs may not match up.
As soon as I figured that personality out, I could cook good eats on it.
Never knew why and did not think about it.
Just different personalities I guess, and I was able to adapt.
I was lucky, I guess
TIM