I won a Desert "Throwdown" on the smokering several years ago. That's right, pie that was smoked...and there was no hint of smoke.
It was a pear/Raspberry pie from a tree and plants in my backyard.
Here's the finished product, and the shot that sealed the deal.

That's money right there....and this one didn't hurt my chances either.

Them boobies been carrying me for years.
You got problems with maintaining heat with an offset stick burner? Buy one that has sufficient steel thickness to maintain heat and use a bed of charcoal with wood on top. It's too hard to manage a wood only fire, but it's MUCH easier with the bed of charcoal.
Pellets work fine, but there is no "art" to it, and it's not the same. No bagging on them, but everything shouldn't be easy.
If you are at least cooking? It's all good.