The line about the pellet grill burning too clean is what got me, because I used to roll my eyes at the offset crowd. I had a pellet grill for three years and told everyone the bark thing was just old guys being stubborn about fire tending. Then my brother in law did the same test you did, two racks of ribs side by side, and the offset ribs had that deeper red color and real chew to the crust while the pellet ones tasted fine but flat. I still like pellets for a quick weeknight cook and I am not giving mine away, but I was wrong about them being equal. The fire tending part is annoying for sure, though sitting out there with a beer and a chimney starter is half the fun anyway.

Sitting on your phone recreating the office at the park really is peak modern life.