Gravity feed pondering...

I was looking at a Viking gravity feed smoker today. I noticed that the grate has a spacing of about an inch, this is quite a bit larger than a basic charcoal grate. I also noticed that the Viking grate is squares. I remember reading that grates with bars oriented the long way are easier to pull ou because the charcoal doesn't hang up the grate.

So my questions are...
Why is the spacing wider? (I think I know but want some backup)
What is a good spacing for the bars on a gravity feed smoker.
Is a bars set up superior to a square grate setup?

I figured the spacing was so the coals would drop onto flavor wood.

For now I'm bench racing a smoker...
I've already started on the draft controller.