The other half is a chef, and we grill all year round outside...it's like an extension of the kitchen! Gas, job done! No messing, quick, always there, hail, wind, snow, rain! As mentioned, get good lava rocks and very little difference to charcoal. We have a small Outback Excel (only 2 of us)...it's got plastic legs/shelves and thats what we wanted as we've had full stainless steel ones before and they cannot survive coastal living air!!