Smoky Jim, next time you're in that area, go on up to Taylor, just a little ways north. Louie Mueller's Barbecue has been doing it since 1949 in the same place. Outstanding brisket and beef ribs!! In my opinion, way better than Black's. But, I also like Kreuz Mkt and Smitty's better than Black's. And, I'm not saying Black's is bad...it is most definitely good barbecue. Snow's in Lexington, just a little to the east of Austin is some of the best brisket I've ever eaten, and I've been to most all the best Texas barbecue joints. Snow's brisket, like Franklin's, almost chews itself, and just melts in your mouth. Another one consistently ranked in the top 5 is Pecan Lodge in Dallas. But, unfortunately, I was not a fan...their brisket was way too fatty (and I always love the point) and didn't have the bark the aforementioned joints do. And, I believe (not positive) that their beef ribs were chuck short ribs (ribs 2-5 above the brisket), where most joints do plate short ribs (ribs 6-8 behind the brisket). There just seems to be less meat, and more connective tissue and sinew in the chuck ribs than the plate ribs. I had the same experience with beef ribs at Black's...so, I kinda think they also use the beef chuck ribs.
You hit the nail on the head about Salt Lick though. It's a nice tourist attraction, and they serve a couple thousand people a day, with a great party atmosphere. But, their meats are just not up to standard. I'm a beef guy, being born and raised in Texas, so I didn't try their pork ribs, which is what I think you're talking about when you say "ribs". For the most part, their meat is dry and tasteless...because they do all their smoking on some huge gas-fired smokers, but I don't think their meat gets much smoke at all. Then, they just throw some out there on those little fire pits to make people think their meat comes from there...when in reality, it's not even close. It's definitely an experience...but just don't go there expecting the same quality of barbecue as Franklin's, Snow's, Louie Mueller's, Black's, Kreuz Market, and Smitty's.
A few other really good joints in Austin are John Mueller Meat Co, La Barbecue, Micklethwait Craft Meats, and Stiles Switch. If you're ever down a little further south, check out Killen's in Pearland. And, a little further out west in the Hill Country, it's always nice to visit Cooper's Old Time Pit BBQ in Llano.