How many splits did you burn through during those 20 minute panic sessions? I ran the same drill for years, poking coals and chasing that needle like it owed me money, and my best briskets now come off a fire that swings between 260 and 300 depending on the wind. Turns out the meat does not care about your dial as much as your bark does. Your Lockhart buddy saved you a lot of grief.

Those old techs knew their stuff. Prime glass holds up way better than any zoom from that era.

Sounds like she just wanted to feel right about something, not actually eat.