... I don't know why but seeing the Smoke makes me really want to get one
For me, the ease of use, smart design and quality is easily worth the double cost of the Maverick. And this year they also come in lots of colors.
When I finally unboxed mine the other day, I pulled out the battery stops, plugged in the probes and was using it. Didn't even read the instructions until later. Programming is intuitive, not fussy. They're auto paired. The main unit has a strong magnet on the back, so I "store" mine on the side of the fridge and hang the remote from it. Looking forward to getting my Gateway this week.
The only annoyance in the software for me is a minor one. When the remote alarm goes off and you silence it, the main unit's alarm is still going until you go to it and silence it. I guess the comm is only one-way.