Watching this play out is like watching my buddy argue that his hand grinder makes better coffee than my machine, even after I beat him in a blind taste test. The gear matters way less than people want to admit, and losing stings so we blame the judges or the setup instead of the cook. Your uncle has spent 12 years learning how fire moves and when to wrap, and that feel is real, but a pellet guy who knows his temps and nails his timing can beat him any day. Same thing happens with guitars, golf clubs, cameras, people obsess over the tool because it is easier than admitting someone just practiced harder in a different way. In the end the pitmaster matters more than the pit, but fire still adds a flavor pellet smoke cannot fake, so your uncle is not totally wrong either.

Man, I learned the same lesson with a magnet and a flashlight.