re: Anyone use the oyster bed

That looks nice enough I'd keep it out myself as a decorative piece. But if wanting to use it for other stuff try recipes written for cupcake pans and just keep in mind some stuff isn't feasible. Try mini crab cakes appetizers, potato cup frittatas (think hash browns making a little "cup" and filling with egg batter), etc.

Even less useful, I have these stainless steel oyster shells: LINK
They work really well and I like that the fire has a better chance of really charbroil well, but they're not very versatile.