with Wicked Good, I've looked right at it, could tell that a few pieces weren't lit, even though they had a little gray on the edges, went to move them by hand to another kettle & burnt the snot out of my fingers......point being: the stuff's so good it's almost invisible !!!!
The reviews I saw before & just as I started using it & from talking to the people that sold it were that it was made from South American non-endangered hardwoods, then shipped to New Hampshire or wherever they sell from.......it may be that recently they've switched to US hardwoods like Duke is saying, but the stuff absolutely is the best lump I know of.......VERY dense, but light enough to get (even at it's cost) your money's worth in a bag.....
Lump, for me, is hotter in a SMALLER area......good for the sear & direct.......it's other good use I've found is using the smaller chips that would ordinarily fall thru a grate as extra 'burn insurance' sprinkled on top of stacked briquettes for long burns / cooks.............fills in the gaps in the coals that otherwise might breach & allow the heat to run low or even go out.............
PS: Great experiment....SAX ......
It may be that there's less of a noticeable difference in the smaller confined area of the Smokey's......the experiment might come out a bit different on 22's....I don't know?