Not sure if anyone has these "new" models and can give some feedback.

I'm leaning towards the backyard beast with the side hopper and rear smoke vents.
But the flagship does have a side table that can be used. I don't think either have hopper clean-outs.

https://www.recteq.com/products/backyard-beast-1000
https://www.recteq.com/products/flagship-1100

Don't know about the new model, but have had my Rectec bull for 5 years and gets lots of use. Love it.

You ever get annoyed if you want to switch out pellet types? Oak -> Hickory or you just stick with a blend?

One thing I like about my offset smoker is that I use lump oak charcoal. I add pellets in a tube but I sort of have some control of smoke vs heat.

I guess with pellet smoker you are tied to the same smoke and heat source.

I have a version of the flagship and love it. Any model that's too new you have to wonder if it will have early model design or reliability flaws.

Mine has the splitter in the hopper, so sometimes I will blend different wood by putting partial bags on each side.

However, what I love about it is the ease of use, so I don't overthink the wood type. I have found that wood flavor is more impactful in the offset than my rectec, but know people have varying opinions.

Someone help me understand why they don't make the top rack larger and make the bottom rack slide out for an efficient use of rack space?

It already looks like the racks are in slots, so they should slide if it wasn't blocked by the exterior of the pit.

I'll also never understand why these things can't go down to 140deg or 150deg so you can hold meat on it like a warmer.

The top slides now.

I get that. I'm specifically asking about why doesn't the bottom slide so you can have a full depth top rack instead of a half rack.

I don't know anything about the flagship but there should be a big Texas A&M logo put on it.