I have both gas and charcoal. The gas is for grilling only and the barrel smoker is for BBQ only with the occasional special steak that I want flavored with hardwood.

In the barrel smoker, I ONLY use Cowboy Brand Lump Hardwood Charcoal (found at Home Depot, Lowe's etc) which is started in a tower charcoal starter w/ newspaper (never, ever use starting fluid unless you like the taste of gasoline). It takes 15 minutes to get the charcoal rolling in the tower and I can be laying down a thick smoke with fruit wood in 20 mins. Lump hardwood charcoal tastes much better and burns way hotter than briquettes (and it burns much faster too). This gives you a better sear on your steak.

What I'm saying is one of the main reasons folks stay away from charcoal is that they think it takes too long - when actually, with the right charcoal and a starting tower.....its takes roughly the same time as it does to heat up a gas grill....and the flavor is WAY better than with gas.