The whole point of the thread is to discuss the details of the new handles style... speculate is all we can really do at this point.
Brian, out of curiosity how many MBH or MTH kettles do you have? Probably a lot more than wood and plastic right? The old MBH kettles were much more solidly built then they are today and I doubt you would contest that point. I don't know about you but I feel much safer shipping an older kettles than I do the new ones and that's because bending a MBH is next to impossible, the newer "bent strap" style handle is far less durable and bends/cracks with only moderate force.
This is just another step toward a cheaper product. Sadly it's not Weber's fault they are just trying to stay competitive - but that doesn't change the fact that we are getting a lesser product. "Things just aren't made like they used to"
I have quite a few of MBH, MTH, and wood handles. It's not because they are made better, it's because old grills are cool, and older grills are even cooler. The reality is this, they all cook the same. I have old grills that are thrashed and new ones beat up. I have no evidence that because the metal is thicker that they stay nicer. I'm not sure why we all think that it's more stout or whatever. I have a brand new grill and a five year old performer and I don't feel like they are going to collapse or I couldn't cook a meal. I have a grill from the 90's that is absolutely falling apart. Does that mean they started sucking in the 90's? I personally don't have an issue with any of these grills. It's not like .020 thousandths more of steel will retain more heat and make your dinner better or worse. The grills are basically the same, maybe a little cosmetically different but at the end of the day they are still fundamentally the same. To me that's why they are so damn cool. If they release a yellow one next year, I'm all in....
As far as shipping I hate shipping old kettles when they get wrecked you can't replace them......New ones, you can right back to store and get another
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