Since I can't leave well enough alone, I figure it's time for me to put in my $.02.
I use Kingsford, and will continue to use Kingsford for all of my smokes.
"But...but, that's just not natural, PeeBee! Lump is so much better!"
I disagree, wholeheartedly. First, let me give you a quick rundown on what Kingsford is made of... Ground up wood, starch, and minerals. In that order. It's wood charcoal, some coal (nothing wrong with coal, it's been firing pizza ovens in Napoli for ages), and food starch as a binding agent. Because of this process, it's also always the same.
Lump charcoal burns hot as hell, and clean. It also burns inconsistently, and more importantly, fast. Clean is the only property conducive to proper smoking that I would consider a positive. The rest? No thanks.
I can reach 250 with Kingsford if I have a water pan, 650 if I don't. What does that tell me? It tells me that even with Kingsford, I'm wasting a whole lot of heat energy heating that pan of water. Seems pretty unnecessary to me, to use fuel that burns hotter and faster, if that extra heat's doing nothing but boiling water.
Lump charcoal is amazing for grilling. High heat, great sear, burns clean.
For smoking? I'll stick with my Kingsford, and chunks of wood* to flavor my meat.
*I'm on the fence about chunks of wood versus chips in a bag or in a cast iron skillet, but that's a discussion and an experiment for another time.