re: Need recommendations on a smoker

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Electric has attributes in that you can stick a probe in the protein and the unit will not only keep at a constant temp but will shut off when your desired internal temp is reached. This is key for overnight low and slow cooking like butts while you're trying to get a good night's sleep.

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This is true of charcoal burners as well, even the BGE/clones and the Weber Smokey Mountain. Look up heatermeter on the weber board. There are other blower options that will let you control temp without being there.

The really big downside with electric is visual. You don't get real smoke rings in the meat, you need to use a pinking salt to get that classic smoke ring because an electric will not produce it for you. I use an electric, Smokin It #3, for my smoking, I've had the same recipe on a Boston Butt in a BGE as I did in my SI3 and the taste difference wasn't noticeable. The SI3 is just much easier to set up and clean up.

I would recommend looking at Pellet smokers as a great option as well. Seems to be the best of LazyQ and taste. Pellet poopers produce some of the best smokes I have had, better than keg/komodo types.

Hard to beat a pro on a stick burner though.

Smoking meat forums has a lot of good information as well.