I went back to a charcoal burners several years ago, but I still use my Bradley for smoked cured meats, cold smoking's, and I still will fully smoke my butts in it. I'm about ready to cure and smoke a ham. You will see YouTube videos of people making/smoking hams, pastrami, bacon etc. in their charcoal or pellet burners, but it doesn't come close to what you can get from the Bradley. If you smoke your sausage, you are not going to get good results with a wood burner. If you can convince your wife to keep the Bradley in addition to your wood burner; you will have the ideal combination of outdoor cookers.