I disagree so strongly, I'm actually baffled by your post. There must be something wrong with your grill, or (no offense) you don't know how to use it properly. I can grill you whatever you want on my Magma, from hot dogs to filet mignon, cooked however you like, and you won't know it didn't come from Ruth's Chris, or the Four Seasons.
And I can do it in 20 knot winds.
We just CAN'T be talking about the same grill!!
I agree....
BUT... magma offers 3 different propane regulators for their grills, for those people that have different cooking styles.... different gas flow rates, so this could be the problem.
Magma Regulators
I have two different regulators, because we do a lot of grilling of vegetables (in a grilling basket) directly over the flames, and the one regulator wasnt hot enough to grill them fast enough, so I bought a high output reg, but for cooking thick meat its a bit too hot and so I need to use the smaller one.
when cooking crab on the boat, I thought the big regulator would be great to get the water boiling quick, and it does!... but the problem is it cant be turned down low enough to keep the water from boiling over and dousing the flame.... again, the smaller regulator is better.
but with the hot regulator, it only take about 5 minutes to grill up the veggies, even on a cool and windy day...
to the OP... I wish I could recommend a more affordable grill to get you by, but the problem is that most "affordable" grills are not wind proof, and they will blow out easily, and there isnt much use in a grill that blows out in the slightest breeze. the new magma kettle II grill will remain lit in a pretty strong blow and as all parts of it are made of good quality stainless, it is very low maintenance and will last a long time.
the magma kettle II can be used as a single burner stove, a grill or an oven... (my wife baked a cake in ours and it came out perfect) and I strongly recommend it... the grill I mean, leave my cake alone!