re: Opinions on electric smokers?

I have a smokin it #3 with a heatermeter on it. Smokin it is the cheaper cousin of the cookshack. Cookshack, smokin tex and smokin it are some of the higher end electric smokers. They do the job very well. They use very little wood even for 12+ hour smokes. Talking 6 ounces of wood chunks placed in the smoker initially and never having add more for a full packer brisket. If you want to go cheaper, I recommend the oldest gen 40" masterbuilts and use an AMNPS pellet smoker instead of the chip drawer.

If you go with a chip drawer, you don't need to soak your chips like stated above. It does nothing but delay smoke production, it doesn't prevent combustion. Preventing combustion is done by using better quality chips that aren't super dried out. The foil boat is a way to reduce combustion though.

You can produce a faux smoke ring with electrics if you brine with pinking salt, but it is just for show on electrics. There is a lot of good info on electrics over at a certain smoking meat forums website.