We've been shopping to replace our old Fiesta barbecue, and find that
every new model we've seen does not come with -- and appears to be
designed to work without -- those lava rocks that used to be standard
in these things.

What's going on? Has barbecuing changed? Are new barbecues no longer
equipped with those flavor-absorbing things? Are lava rocks now
obsolete?

What's the best barbecue on the (Canadian) market now?