RE the debate between cut bottom or holes, here is my story.
OK, so a few years ago I acquired a SJG bottom and SJS lid which was perfect for building a mini smoker.
my original config was a few holes on the bottom for concern of making it unstable with a big hole. I also used the steamer platform with a terra catta plate. shown below, it worked fine for the SJG bottom because there was a lot of air flow. One draw back was I could not put a rack on the lip and lost a few inches of space.
This config worked, until I got a SJS bottom and I could not get the temp above 200 so now to my reconfig.
Cut out bottom and install long bolts below the lip
12 inch pizza pan and a few nuts and bolts to keep it from moving all over.
With the addition of better air flow I get a few more inches on my bottom rack.
I like my mini so much I built a second one, haven't cooked with the new changes but I don't see why it will not work.