They work fine,whistle.If they are only for cooking having an insulated one is best because it conserves heat n fuel!But for everyday camp cooking,n feeling some radiatored heat from it,whilst your sat around it.
They are pretty good on fuel which is important in some areas were there are no trees.I have used them with cat lit,(usually save toiletroll/kitchen roll tubes n fill with pellets.)
Ive even on a cold night emptied out the ashes.wrapped it in a blanket.n used it as a Hottie.lol.
There is one that can be made from a plastic bucket,n two coke bottles.You mix up cement or clay sand n some filler,form an L shape with bottles/pipe,ineffect cast it.pulling out the bottles tube.when mix goes off,the allow to dry out before use.