Rusty im sorry your not feeling the most welcome here sometimes. There are friends to be made on the forum, you just have to find your niche. Ive rubbed plenty of folks the wrong way and still managed to make some great friends. Why even me and the chicken king started out a little rough and now i consider the man a friend and look forward to meeting him person.
I ask seriously why competition bbq is important to you? I considered it at one time but when i figured out the cost was prohibitive to me and didnt like the idea of cooking food i didnt find appealing i rethought why i wanted to do it. I wanted to make friends who shared a passion and enjoy in that hobby with them. None of my friends would ever enjoy getting up at 4:30am to fire up the pit, it takes a special kind of weirdo for that. I got lucky and found the guys at michigan custom Q. They feed veterans and people in need. i got to help some people and make some great friends. i look forward to the times i get to see them. im not saying comp isn't fun or that they dont do good things (i know there are comp cooks who have done more good than ive even thought of doing, i mean who am i kinding here). you have to decide why you want to do it. There are cheaper and better ways to learn to cook.
remember secrets are not a good way to endear yourself to folks. I know you dont want to share the tips given in a class but don't even bring that stuff up then. if your looking to make friends around here just post up some pics of dinner, good or bad, fancy or not. Maybe include a picture of the dog (in my case its the cat). be sure to thank the folks who comment. Then go post some comments on someone elses cook, just find something positive to say about it, it makes folks feel good to hear a compliment. eventually youll find where you fit in.