I'm sensing some undercurrent against the more modern approaches to barbecue around the various forums. I would get used to hearing that rule if I were you. There are people out people out there that view barbecue as a holistic thing, which involves fire and smoke management, which is reduced down to "push button" with the pellet poopers, charcoal poopers, or any of other more modern smoking appliances. It does take more effort and skill with the old school methods, that's for sure.
Think of it like stick shift vs. automatic classes of drag racing. It takes more skill to launch, shift and manipulate a drag car with a stick shift, rather than "stab & steer" with an automatic trannied car. However, all else being equal, the auto drag cars are .015 to .02 of a second quicker, consistently. That right there is why the charcoal and stick crowd don't want the pellet pooper in the competition....
I don't compete, so the debate really doesn't mean anything to me. What means something to me is to be able to smoke a piece of meat overnight, and not be all bleary eyed and exhausted following day;-)
