Thanks guys. It was the answer I was expecting. However, that would make using the kettle for L&S cooking rather difficult as minion and especially ring of fire almost impossible. I guess the baskets could be used, albeit rather cramped, for minion.
The thing is, that would make the rails useless and unfortunately, that's what I bought not to mention I was planning on the fire brick method as well. I wonder if Weber started to make the kettles with cheaper materials, not only to sell more replacement parts, but also, maybe unintentionally, to discourage slow smoking in effect steering people to the WSM instead thereby using new kettles for quick grilling.
I sent off an inquiring email to Weber support on what their take is on it, and if direct contact with the kettle sides was now causing external damage, how the rails were to be used. Hey maybe, they will send me a set of baskets in exchange for the rails I bought? Nah, I didn't think so either.