Are cheap barrel charcoal grills like Royal Gourmet worth it?

Verified-purchase reviewers and r/grilling threads describe them as solid starter grills for the money, but flag thin steel, rust within a season if left uncovered, fluctuating temperatures, and fiddly ash drawers. The consensus is to buy a cover, clean after each use, and treat it as an inexpensive way to learn rather than a lifetime grill.