Clfergus, it really kind of depends on what you set out to cook........
If you need to do, say ribs, and want 4 hours uninterrupted, a basket might be the ticket, or even two baskets, one at a time lit up...............meaning set up one to burn first & have the other ready with unlit as the 1st winds down...............
Chaining allows for much longer runs......I can usually milk a setup like this for 11 hours, if needed:
Might could need to add some coals at the end to finish pork butt or brisket.............
Short chains on either side, burning opposite directions, meats down the middle are another way to go:
^^^^ I could have started with a little more unlit on the line for these, pork & beef ribs, as there were some added in aways into the cook, but not a huge hassle, ended up fine:
Here's the beef, therm is right about 260f, the sweet spot for a lot of stuff:
Just rotate the grate, meat & all, a few times thru the cook, to keep the meat from being right over the burn.........