WOW-I would have thought real smokers would understand pulled pork is simply the preparation and cooking of a pork shoulder or butt, it makes no difference how its presented, sliced, hand pulled or schreaded in the traditonal style. I have personally seen sliced pork just like in the show take third in a major comp which allowed the team to take home $8,750 at the end of the day
As far as you guys crying about the side dishes, here in Iowa there was over $5,000 to be won from side dish categories at comps in the last 12 months, some were restricted like this and there was only one choice on what to make, others you had guys turning in beans to go up against slaw which was going up against apple cobbler. I know most of you are so cool you go to contests hoping not to win and just piss away $600 or $800 but some people will take a $250-$750 side dish prize with pride and use it to go to another comp later down the line. .
I agree the new format is goofy but it wasn't like there was alot to be learned from the show, Lurking around this very website for the 6 or whatever hours could probably teach you more about que than the six episodes last year IMO