There's a large and growing contingent of the BBQ community that go hot and fast. The hot and fast guys are winning competitions just as often as the low and slow traditionalists and they get more sleep while doing it. I've been moving that way too. With ribs, I still stick to the 200-225 range, but for butts an brisket I'm at 275. I still get just as much smoke, I just wrap a little later in the process. With ribs, the hotter temp reduces the window between done and overdone a bit more than I like. FWIW, smoke doesn't penetrate the meat very deeply, nor do rubs or marinades, they sit on the outside of the meat. There's been a few scientific studies that have shown all the "penetrates the meat" applications are mostly imagination. A smoke ring has absolutely nothing to do with smoke either, though it does demonstrate proper cooking. I guess oxidation ring doesn't sound as appetizing?