Yeah, for $500, the XL matches what a PB820 used to be a couple of years ago(though they were usually on sale for $400). Plus, you get a little bigger cooking area, 31lb. hopper with pellet "purge" (whatever that means), casters on all four legs, a cheap looking side table, and a probe(this is pretty cool, if it works!), in a snazzier package. Controller looks to be similar, though it has a power button(don't know why they would do this, as all you have to do is turn it to smoke to start it up on the 820). Advertising blurb claims "hotter", but my 820 can get to 500, too.
All in all, a good price, IMO.