Our charcoal BBQ gave up a couple of years ago, so we replaced it with a gas one so we'd use it more midweek when weather was good. Take advantage of nicer days after work etc.
It does work ok.
I am more likely to suggest it than DH.
I have been known to have a BBQ even if he is away.
Our BBQs are pretty straight-forward. I make up mixed veg anyway, so put that on kebabs or in tinfoil packets or a (tinfoil type) tray to cook. Just enough meat for us or us and our guests (not mountains). Perhaps some potatoes if I feel like it or salad. But we really treat the act of BBQing as just cooking outdoor rather than indoors. (And DD loves it - she also wants to cook on wood-fires outdoors as much as possible, Bear Grylls/Scouts style!).
Marinating meat and/or veg in advance (oil and some seasoning) really does help.
Not cooking too hot or too long - so the inside cooks while outside gets nicely charred but not burnt, and inside is not gone dry.
Keep accompaniments simple.
If having friends, get everyone to bring 1 thing (we regularly have 4 houses on the street together - 1 does meat, 1 does salad, 1 does nibbles for beforehand, and 1 does dessert). Not too much work for anyone, and we all relax together.
Last night, we couldn't face takeaway after a day on the water in the sun, so ran into Tesco, grabbed 2 steaks and 2 portions of salad (coleslaw and a pasta with mushrooms), I defrosted 3 sliders and 3 buns at home, and we added ketchup and garlic sauce to the table. That was dinner done on the BBQ (DH and I had steak, DD had sliders)! And within 20 minutes of us getting home we were sitting down eating, while also having put wet gear on the line, getting washing into the machine, packing bags for sailing mid-week, watering plants, feeding tomatoes, and getting wine/beer/fizzy orange opened too....