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they were a tweener, not heavy gauge but thicker and more costly than the cheapies. I was able to find a $199 used one but passed as I was 1/4 inch or bust. With new smaller builders popping up making heavy wall pits for under $500 I am sure it was hard to get the normal $399 out of one of these, they must have had a good markup on them as I know a guy in houston that walked in off the street and bought one for $289 while searching for a BGE table.
I went by a BBQ Galores store today and they said the new model would be built by masterbuilt (maker of the Kingsford) and be thinner than the old Bar-B-Chef. They had one is stock but in the box so these should be available.