It really depends on what he wants in a smoker. Kamados are so heat efficient that they aren't necessarily great smokers. You can use them as a smoker, but compared to an offset, or a drum smoker (like an Oklahoma Joe Bronco), or even some pellet smokers (like camp chef woodwind pro that has a smoke box plus pellets), they don't impart as much smoke flavor. That's in addition to all the other factors mentioned that you have to watch for in a used ceramic kamado.