I don't look at the time there as wasted for myself or others. We helped a lot of people become better outdoor cooks as improving myself as we went along. I always tried to emphasize that even though the forum was sponsored by Char Broil it was open to all types and techniques of cooking and cookers and treated it that way. Char Broil had a good thing going when it had CB Martin as the moderator and gave him full rein as well as him being the face of the company. Unfortunately, when people put the wrong people in charge of an area such as marketing things go down hill and that's what happen there.
I don't think the CharBroil HQ understood the value of the forum and how many cookers were sold there. I alone bought six and still think they have excellent products that fit my price range and lazy style of cooking. I know many others here had the same experience. I don't know if the HQ folks know what Tommy did for the product development or not but the SRG line of cookers are much better as a result of Tommy. If they had been smart they would have hired him to be in the product development arena. I think what happened was some people felt other people were getting to much exposure and were jealous and envious and did all they could to take the lime light away. What too many people don't understand is you can sign a flashlight on yourself for visibility; but, you will be seen much brighter when the multiple lights are shining on your people.
The bottom line is Char Broil leaders have made a big leadership mistake and it destroyed what was a family. What a shame. What a shame.
But, as happens many times in life, when one ship sinks another much stronger, more seaworthy, more practical, and has more luxury arrives. That's the ship we are now sailing on--LET'S TALK BBQ!!!! Thanks Tim.
Dee