It was a 'rhetorical' question. I'm 65 and have BBQed for most of that time. BTW what "stuff" is it you are referring to? I assume you mean the fat. Fat's tricky. It absorbs heat faster than tissue. I like my briskets to be finished at more like 180-185 F. Just saying.
I knew what the "stuff" is. I asked you b/c it may have been helpful to others here if you had used the words 'collagen and connective tissue' instead of "stuff". That's all.Wow, you should already know what "stuff" (collagen and connective tissue) is. Fat is usually trimmed on a brisket to a desired thickness, before cooking. As it renders it helps keep the meat juicy. I like my burnt ends, so 195-198F is my target.