All you guys opinions are great. I like smoke ninja's idea to find a long standing member that would want to tackle taking on some of the TD load, so the challenges could be more regulated.
I get a lot of you like it the way it is, and to you its just for fun. And honestly, if i was planning on doing a similar cook around the time of said challenge, it wouldn't bother me if i crapped the bed, or won. But some challenges are expensive as hell. Especially Brisket that is not cheap in basicly any state not TX. So its hard to justify taking on that sort of challenge.
Please don't use payed members as a reason to discredit my opinions. It shouldn't matter why a member should have a voice, and for new members, its not very productive to have new members get more serious with the forum.
I understand what you’re saying about the cost of some of these throwdowns like brisket.
BUT... this is a BBQ forum and most people do like to eat, cook, talk about and look at special cuts like a brisket or a standing rib roast.
You also have to see there are plenty of other cost effective challenges like chicken, fruit, desert, burgers, fast-food, comfort food, tacos, sandwiches, bacon makes everything better, veggies, skewered, fish, appetizers, happy meal, potatoes, ribs and so on.
So actually there are more affordable options to cook throughout the year than high dollar ones.
It is nice to see some of these special cuts throughout the year for me personally.
I picked up a brisket on sale, put it in a backup fridge and wet aged it for a couple more weeks from the kill date and have it in the freezer now waiting for the next brisket throwdown.
Our mods do an exceptional job to not allowing like cooks to be done more than once per year.
Please do not take my above reply in a negative way as that is totally not my intent.
Sometimes when I read back what I type sounds different than if it would be if talking in person.
Also after doing some of these throwdowns I feel its kind of relaxing to me because I get away from the TV news, work and the chaotic thing known as everyday life. Cooking these just helps me wind down, enjoy a good meal with family and friends. I also feel like I am starting to make new friends on this forum because of cooking these throwdowns and posting pics of my food.