The above "discussion" is reflective of the good and bad qualities of the internet and forums...let's keep this real civil and recognize that "we" have non-competitors, competitors, judges, board members, former board members, and a multitude of "other" category folks reading and chiming in on the "discussion".
As a third year competitor I've gone through most of the phases - "who cares what others cook on", gee I wish it was a "level" playing field with only (pick one), electronics ought to be (allowed/outlawed - you pick), etc.
After my experience I've decided it doesn't matter what other folks use...I've been beaten by pellet cookers and I've beat pellet cookers, I've had pure stick burners whip my butt and I've beaten pure stick burners, etc. etc. etc.:-D
I currently use a stickburner - I chose it because of volume (I cater, too) and price. I've since seen some high capacity pellet cookers that have me REAL interested - mostly for catering, but I would NOT be opposed to using a FEC500 at competition.:mrgreen: :mrgreen: Same goes for Southern Pride and Ole Hickory rigs - SWEEEETTTTT rigs.:-D
Current rules for KCBS limit us to wood and wood products...and those are the rules. I recently helped at the NBBQA "Best of the Best" and "Cooking on the Square" in Douglas, GA...they allow ANY cookers - you just have to declare what type of rig you are using. Second in whole hog (Invitational) using a gasser felt GOOD...:mrgreen: 9th in the OPEN didn't feel as good, BUT - I'd switched to my stickburner...I'm not blaming the cooker AND I/we beat the team using the gasser we'd used for the Invitational.
Like Jim said, we pick our cookers for a number of reasons...buying a stickburner for competiton and then whining about pellet machines is juvenile...you know what the rules are when you buy your equipment. As you stick around the competition circuit your views will change and so will your equipment.
If I was buying JUST for competition it would probably be an FEC100 (or two) using the current KCBS and FBA rules. If I could use an Ole Hickory gasser I'd be tempted to buy one...it's interesting that both the Southern Pride and Ole Hickory cookers can run on just wood...
My next cooker will probably be an FEC500 or possibly FEC750 though I'd like to have a JOS Hog Cooker which is a charcoal/stickburner....but, I digress...I cater, compete, and cook a lot at home. I've learned to use multiple cookers and I have no issue with the current rules. If we want to go back to holes in the ground with preburned coals then I guess I'll buy a backhoe to take to the competitions so I don't have to use a shovel...oh, wait, somebody will say that's an unfair advantage!!:lol:
Bottom line...as Jim, Rod, Ray, and others have stated...vote, select board members that reflect your beliefs, run for office yourself, etc. But don't just fire away on this forum..."friendly fire" is not funny and is not necessary.