I owned the Silver and Gold side by side for close to a decade. Now I just have the Gold, which has more controllable heat because of the side vents, which are WAY easier to adjust (and close after cooking to preserve charcoal for next time) than the Silver's bottom vent. You say those vents are above the charcoal? Not on mine when I'm grilling, because I have a cheapie pie cooling rack I sit on the charcoal grate to raise the coals an inch or so, which makes for better open-top grilling in either Joe.