The absolutely cleverest, most economical way of getting expensive smoker taste on the cheap was revealed in Lifehacker a while back. Forget the $700 imported Japanese Green Egg cooker. For under $50 – about the price of a Weber – you can have a flower pot barbecue smoker.
How to treat the meat?
Some people brine and rub.
Others cook, basting once in a while.
Some sauce as they cook.
Others just smoke and add sauce later.
I find the spice rub with sauce added later works best.