Question: The purpose of this device is to help the grill master (me) regulate the temperature inside the grill while the lid is closed. Charcoal grills do not have automatic temperature controls, so I rely on this dial to help monitor the internal heat and regulate it to the best of my ability. This dial is very useful when cooking foods that must be cooked to a certain temperature to avoid food related illnesses, such as pork, chicken and seafood. The most notable replacement for this device would be an electronic (or digital) temperature sensor that uses better technology (thermocouple or thermistor probe) to more precisely verify temperature. The digital sensor would not only respond faster, it would be a more accurate read. The current dial is very small print so the hashes can easily be mixed up by up to 10 degrees! A digital readout would mitigate this issue due to the bold, LCD/LED display that many on the market have currently. Also, in the digital age that we live in, the availability of Bluetooth would make grilling or smoking more convenient. I could prep in my kitchen and check the temperature, saving time and energy overall. Need Assignment Help?