It is a shame.
I cut my teeth with SOTG, first with TBE(early 2009) looking for ways to use it, man did I find ways to use it. Because of the site I went on to buy more CB products:
RED (12/2009)
Fatboy (01/2010)
Electric smoker (1/2006) that CB posted a discounted price on.
BEESR (10/2011).
My first TBE died because I used it so much and I bought a second one. I still have all of the above, except the BEESR that I did not like. I use these products daily and now I am in the market for a new gasser, charcoal grill or smoker. Too many toys on my list but not enough $$ in the bank.
I seriously doubt if I will be going back to CB. I am really starting to lean towards Weber for the charcoal grill. Not sure about the gasser (still un-decided) because I love the way the RED cooks a steak and not sure what other grill that can cook a steak like that. My problem with the RED is I had to replace the emitters twice and close to having to replace them again. The lettering wore off and after replacing it, it wore off again. The controls do not line up correctly. There are other issues but not here to slam that cooker. I’ve had it for years and not sure how many years I am supposed to expect to get out of a $600 grill.
As for the smoker I have smoking-it #3
http://www.smokin-it.com/category_s/5.htm on my short list.
Point to all this rambling is, doesn’t CB understand the marketing gain with a site like SOTG brings? I now own the following and use the following spices because of LTBBQ:
Tatonka Dust
6” A-MAZE-N-Tube
40LB of CookinPellets 40H Hickory Smoking Pellets
Set of GrillGrates
Savor Spices
Etc… It called marketing….