I think the price of the pellets marketed for cooking is coming down because there are so many companies making them now. They are available everywhere, even Dollar General has kingsofrd pellets and 6" smoke tubes now. Add in the fact that the heating pellet people are putting on their bags a picture of a pellet cooker saying perfect for pellet grills. I have been using Hamers Hot Ones for coking for years, I heat with them also, I also use another brand to heat with that is easier for me to get, I see they have the pellet grill on the bag when I got my winter supply last fall. Really the only advantage to the bbq pellets is if they say they are 100% hickory or cherry or a blend of a couple of woods. You can't get that in a heating pellet, Hamers are primarily oak from what they told me. I like that they are small in length, I rarely see a pellet that is 3/4 to 1 inch long.