Not sure if I'm reading the above correctly or not, but IMO I wouldn't plan to "quick" or "sear" anything on a pellet smoker unless you're using that Camp Chef with the side burner, regardless what any manufacturer claims.
I smoke on charcoal, on a smoker where I can cook over the fire box, and I still have a propane gill as well.
On the charcoal front, a good friend has one of these and loves it
https://www.weber.com/US/en/grills/c.../18501101.html