I've yet to use my SnS 2.0 although I'm looking forward to doing so. So busy with work I have it planned for January for a brisket.
I've been a huge fan of the snake method for long cooks. I've never had one go out on me and find it's been to date absolutely foolproof for maintaining smoking temps I'm comfortable with.
I don't neatly arrange coals for the snake method, i dump a bunch of briquettes in and push them up along the side starting at about 7:30 on the dial and stopping around 3:00.
Without ever using the SNS a benefit I'm expecting is that with the amount of coals it will hold over to the side on a brisket on a 22 I'm guessing there will be zero reason to have to rotate the grate as all the coals will be in the SnS basket to the left and the Brisket will be to the right.
The other benefit I anticipate is protecting the porcelain on my favorite kettles.
It does seem like a luxury item, not a must have. i'll report back once I've actually used it.
All that being said, after seeing a 26 with a snake method in action at the Northeast Meetup, i think that may be the best grill ever for the money.
Easily can do a packer brisket with a snake and maintain a really long effortless cook.
After seeing that in action I felt no need to ever think about a pellet pooper or atc.
The 26 with a snake just held temp rock solid all day long.