The best part of cooking/smoking is :there are very few rules, and everyone has their way of doing things. If it works for ya then keep doing it, if not then change it up a bit. There are alot of beliefs by the pro's about rubs, sauces, brines, slathers and techniques. It has to be that way. People aren't gonna pay money for books that just agree with what someone else said,or watch TV shows that show the same technique repeatedly.
Never gonna get any 6 cooks to agree on everything, even if they all believe in it.
I truley belive that the best cooks/chefs/pitmasters all know about these differences, but have singled out the ones that make the biggest differences to the foods they cook.
I also believe that experience and confidence play a huge part in the successful cook.Practice makes perfect, and experiencing perfection repeatedly promotes confidence!