Do you keep the water pan inside the MES at all when you smoke, Bear? If so, do you just leave it empty and covered with foil?
Personally I don't do any of the sand or bricks, because I don't open my door during the smoke, and I don't get the big temp swings. I also don't want all that extra frozen sand or ice cold bricks to have to heat up while I'm preheating my smoker & starting my smoke. But maybe that's just me.
Bear