Gas BBQs, lava rocks, help a girl without a clue

[fizzylemonade]

Really want to get a gas BBQ, have done the whole charcoal thing, including disposable ones etc but just want to cook outside and not have to wait for said charcoal thing to heat up blah blah blah. So a gas one it is.
Why do some have lava rocks and some don't and can anyone advise me on what to look out for.
I went to a BBQ where they had a gas one and everything tasted great and the guy said that you don't clean them you just remove excess food etc as it seasons it

The seasons it thing is right, we don't clean ours but we do burn off the waste gubbins (30mins full whack, lid down). Lava rocks effectively simulate charcoal, and therefore distribute the heat more evenly. Good. Get one.

I had to laugh when I looked at a pack of lava rock and realised it was actually lava!!! I thought it was like the fake pebbles in my gas fire

And me a SAHM who on earth would let me educate my children??? My degree just counts for nothing

They are great though. We get tons of use out of ours in the warmer months. Have used it 4 times so far this year !

That's what we want, outdoor cooking. Honestly cannot do with the fannying around that a charcoal one requires especially cleaning it etc after that nice bottle of wine and just wanting to sleep in my chair in the garden!

Our new neighbours have a gas BBQ but I don't know them well enough to ask them 101 questions about it though.