I liked the old Weber also.

There was a certain ritual to the old-time Weber, the coals had to be just so and timing was important, but living in a high fire danger area I like the idea that most everyone is using propane grills, much safer.
I had to move my grill to it's summer location, it was too close to the back-door and set off both smoke alarms in the house, so I think there was enough BBQ smell emanating from it.

Personally, I think propane grills shouldn't be compared to the wood or charcoal grills ~ the gas may be easier to use and the food may look the same, but imo, nothing tastes better than real coal-grilled! However, I'm sufficiently odd enough to think that a teeny hibachi does just as good [or better!] than any big grill. -Of course, grilling for two is different from grilling for ten or twenty.

We won't ever have a gas grill. Robert had one before we got married, but he got hooked on my Weber! With a chimney starter and one sheet of newspaper, coals start very easily with very little waiting time. We love the Kingsford Competition briquettes ....super fast and zero chemical smell so common with most briquettes.