Seriously? As a professional?
Number one, I want a good grill-top. Expanded metal is ok but it does burn out over time in one spot if you make your fire hot enough for grilling. Best I ever had was a 3/8 inch cast iron rod grill from the late 1800s. I recovered it from a house ruin on the side of a mountain.
If you are smoking, expanded metal is fine.
Second thing is easy to clean and add fuel.
I tend to rate equipment on how well it does what I want, and how difficult it us to use/maintain.
This is as personal a question as which is the best carry personal firearm. And as contentious. ;)
/johnny
Yah, good points.
I got nuked in June 2009 but recently found a gig. After She Who Must Be Obeyed gets through prying the paneling off the walls and we get the new floors layed in I get to play around with my/our income, and a new cooker is in there.
She thinks I am a rib-cooking god. And I am. But money is always tight and proper forethought is important, especially when it comes to planning a new place to BURN MY DINNER!