That smokeless claim only works once the fire gets really hot. The first twenty minutes are always the smokiest, it's just getting up to temp. Maybe your wood was a little damp, or you piled it too high before it caught good. Next time try starting with a small, hot base of kindling and add bigger logs slowly once you see those secondary flames dancing over the holes.

Honestly it's just basic math, not some huge consumer revolution.

Oh man, that's the worst feeling! I always poke the stem a little with my fingernail now, if it's still green under the surface it's alive. Saved my basil plant that way last month, looked totally brown and done for.

My buddy Dave did that exact thing last winter. He swore his coolant was fine because it had a "nice spicy kick" to it. Took his truck up the mountain and it started overheating on the way back down. Turns out his spicy kick was just weak, sad water with a dash of rust. Had to get it towed. I stick to the test strips now.

Ever notice how this happens with car headlights too? The super bright blue ones just light up the fog in front of you, just like @the_elizabeth said. It's all about the right tool for the actual conditions, not just the biggest number.