CaptFrank,
I tried a BBQ on my BWS. I too was taught to never close the exhaust but control the air intake instead. Hence, I didn't properly use the BBQ. With both air intakes closed and the exhaust open, it did increase my burn time by an hour or so. I returned the BBQ....$230 for an hour wasn't worth it to me. Since then, I have been playing with the exhaust. I can now bring the smoker up to temperature and close the exhaust and both air intake vents and get between 10 to 12 hour burn with only minor adjustments to the air intake without affecting the quality of the product. Maybe my smoker isn't as air tight as I thought that it was.
Mike