Sounds like you had a good time cooking it, people enjoyed it, and you learned a little. Hot & fast is good but fast & furious dont give a guy enough time to enjoy his beer.
Iv cooked brisket alota ways, marinated in Dr.Pepper even (dont bother), but i found over time that minimal trimming turns out best for me as far as flavor and quality go. Most guys dont like floppin a big hunk of gellified fat in their mouth due mostly to texture issue, but i have to tell ya its worth trying because the flavor is outstanding, especially with a good coat of rub on it. If you ever get a chance try some thats cooked in a wood fired BBQ do it. The air flow in a stick burner is far superior to a charcoal grill and can make bark crispy and smokey in a way charcoal grills cant.