I have smoked many items and never soaked the wood prior to putting in the smoker... Am I missing the boat?
I think the real issue is that wood isn't intended to be wet...smoke wood included. Any commercially built smoker manufacturer who instructs the user to soak the smoke wood chips prior to using them hasn't put their theory to test in the real world, and should cease from printing such things in their instruction booklets. The only thing that is accomplished by using wet wood is you will slowly add a bit higher humidity to the smoke chamber until the wood stops steaming out the water it was soaked in. Those who don't know better will likely do as the manufacturer's booklet instructs them to, wanting to get the best results they can from their new investment. Knowledge from practical experience will never be shadowed by someone sitting at a desk writing a rule-book.
I stopped using soaked chips more than 2 years ago. If you're having trouble with excessive smoke or the chunks/ships burning up, then you need to control the amount of heat and/or air getting to them so they slow down a bit.
Keep on smokin'!!!!!!!
Eric