Here is my take....

Charcoal is by far the best. If you want flavor then charcoal with some wood chips (your choice of what kind) on top is the way to go. If you want ease of use then propane (or natural gas) is the way to go. Not quite as much flavor but much more convenient. I used to use charcoal all the time but now that I have gotten lazy I use my big expensive gas grill. I usually throw some wood chips wrapped up in foil on one of the burners and that seems to work pretty well.

Now smoking is a completely different animal. Wood is the ONLY way to go. I have a custom built smoker with an offset firebox and it is amazing. Throw some mesquite or hickory in there is it is heaven on earth. I can sit on my back porch, listening to classic rock on XM radio, with a beer in my hand, on a Sunday afternoon and mess around with the smoker all day. That is my therapy.

It doesn't get any better than this.....

Britt

 

but no one even mentioned lava rock. A tray under the grill and above the flame with lava rock laid out to fully cover will produce the taste of charcoal. It is the juices burning on the coal that make the taste. Lava rock does the same and propane burner heats it.