So I cooked on a Jumbo Joe for maybe half a year or so before getting a performer.
I used baskets on the jumbo joe too. I actually really like them with the jumbo joe because its as tall as the charcoal area. On the 22 the basket is an inch or two below the food grate, on the JJ it almost touches.
The 22 uses slightly more coal. I think. I'm not completely convinced yet.
You always hear people say this... but then you hear them talk about how it takes more to fill it up. That seems to be people point of judgement.
I basically always use the baskets. If I am just making a burger for myself, I fill the whole basket and have about half left. This does actually seem to be the same on the 22. Possibly only a quarter of a basket left, but I am starting to think its about the same.
I've noticed when cooking indirect, the 22 seems colder... But I think its because its so big that I naturally place food on the other side, which is quite a bit further away on the 22. For instance I use to cook bacon on my JJ indirect while I was waiting for the basket to really get going. The first few times I did this on the 22 the bacon never really got cooked and I had to move it basically over the flame to get it done on time. But then on the JJ, the other side of the grill is 6 inches away... on the 22 it was like twice that.
I basically only use my 22 now though. Well not basically, the JJ has sat in the corner since. Not sure either is hotter. As I said the JJ the coal came up to the grate, there is a gap on the 22... But I have a CI grate on the 22 so it seems fine. The 22 has room for more coal, which is what IMO makes it hotter while still having the same or more indirect area...