LOL----You're killin' me now Foamy!!!
Wipe off the grates if it bothers you or you are worried it will bother your guests. Everything else is seasoning (adds wall thickness, insulation, plugs small holes, rust protection, etc).
If you give it a cresote bath, then you have to clean it, if you don't why fix what wasn't broken? IF you must clean it, wear gloves!
I have a neighbor who rotates the tires on his lawnmower. Seriously! He loves the pulled pork but he'd love to chean my smoker....LOL Some folks are just ADD and need something to do. I mix him a double and after a few, he relaxes.
Bear