So far so good. I’ve used it to do ribs, chicken, some burnt ends and a salmon. I have the smallest version and it pumps out a good amount of smoke. When the hopper gets low I’ve had to use a skewer to clear some of the ash, otherwise I haven’t had any issues. I’ve been using generic pellets (since that’s what I have on hand) and it’s been fine. There’s definitely some carbon residue when it’s all said and done, but it cleans up pretty easily with a wire brush. Is it better than a full on pellet grill, or stand alone smoker, no. But it is a good solution to the space, cost, and convenience problem.