Totally get what you mean. I used to think I couldn't move anything in a scene, like it had to be perfectly raw. Then I shifted a stray coffee cup out of a frame once and the whole photo just clicked better. Sometimes the best shot happens after you mess with the "right" way.

My last brisket cook had the same coal bed issue. I feel your pain, it's so annoying when the temp drops fast. I saw @the_dylan saying swings can help flavor, but I need a steady fire for peace of mind. My go-to is keeping a charcoal chimney going on the side. I add a few fresh lit coals every 45 minutes to keep things even. It takes focus, but it beats a cold smoker lol.

Man, I've had the total opposite happen more times than I can count. That's a risky game to play. Every time I've waited, the prices just shoot up right before departure because all the cheap seats are gone. You got lucky this one time, but I would never plan a trip around that hope. It feels more like a sure way to pay extra or get stuck.