I have the older version SnP, it's made with much heavier metal, I bought it used for $50 from the classifieds in the local paper. I was looking at the one you have shown at WM a few weeks ago. It seems to be made with much lighter metal, I'm sure it would work fine as long as you do the mods. My cooking temps are within 10° from left to right, the mods really do work.
My firebox doesn't have the ash clean out door, at first I thought this would be a pain, but it turns out I like it better with out one because mine doesn't leak. I've done a 14 hour smoke with lump, and never had a problem with ash piling up, but if I used regular charcoal it would be a different story.