The biggest thing to remember here is that sending FROM your linux.com vanity address probably won’t work well. Yes, you absolutely can set your “mail from:” address to anything you want, but without corresponding SPF or DKIM records in the linux.com DNS server (which you can’t control and they won’t do), most major email providers will either send your messages to spam or outright reject them.

I’m not trying to build smokeless necessarily. Mostly, the rocks are for even heat distribution and appearance. I worry that the rings i bought won’t support flagstone, so it needs to look good without them

Either is fine, I’m trying not to break the bank on it though. The pit will be outside, below a high canopy but not covered/roofed. I’m also not sure where I’d even find some of the more esoteric rocks. Would chipped marble work here?