I agree with all but the last part.

Following a recipe can absolutely be a hobby. You can take a lot of enjoyment out of it, and it's even useful.

I wouldn't say it's an art, but it's definitely a hobby.

Smoking meats is a hobby. To get dinner ready, you start at 3am and tend the firebox all day. You try different rubs, woods, and techniques to make the product of your craft the best it can be.

3am?!? What tiny little brisket are you doing at 225 to start that late? You've got to leave time for it to rest.

Ok, in all seriousness this is one of my main hobbies. By that I mean I do it often and I've stuck with it for years while other hobbies have come and gone. I've got a couple of offset smokers, a drum smoker that I built, and a pellet smoker when I don't have the time to tend the firebox but still want to smoke something.

I said all that to say this: there are plenty of people who couldn't give two shits about smoking meats who absolutely come ask me questions about it. Not because I'm the best, and not because they want it to be their hobby. But because I'm excited to talk about it. I also tend to bring full plates with me for my friends (and usually a couple of extras) so they get the benefit of having food.

I've also had women ask if they can come hang out next time I crank up the smoker. It's an easy way in for someone who wouldn't normally be confident enough to approach you.

You're always following some form of a recipe unless you're blindly experimenting