Grill smoker troubleshooting or adding to the internet knowledge that I take from so much

Short story:

smoker or grill not staying lit? Will light then die after a second or so?  Go get a new inline regulator, usually with the hose is attached.

Regulator home depot

Long story:

So the internets failed me today.  The last time I used my smoker the gas ran out as it was finishing up. So i shut down the burner and I disconnected the tank. I have since replaced the tank. Today I start the process hooking up another and starting the smoker.  It lit using a lighter as I never count on the ignighter.  So it wouldn't stay lit.  It would ignighter and then Peter out.  It looked like the gas was filling up the line and then once turned on the gas would burn that amount and no more.  I then tried to reconnect playing with the amount the tank was open etc.  I then consulted the Internet which usually answers all questions.  I got a couple of answers that made sense.  The regulator was keeping the gas from flowing because after the tank ran out last time its safety kicked in.  So to fix it you needed to clear the line by turning on the burner without the tank attached.  Once clear turn the tank back on slowly.  That didn't make sense when you think about it.   How would the regulator know if the burner went out?  I'm sure the safety feature only works for a gross leak like a ruptured line. Well the steps didn't work at all so then I took the burner apart and the gas control.  I found no blockages and everything seemed ok unless there was a failure inside the flow control.  Some posts indicated the manufacturer brinkmann sent out a part and everything was fixed.  I was in the middle of cooking and couldn't wait, I had started the meat on the grill indirect ie old school smoker. I read about people getting a regulator but I wasn't sure if it was the flow control, inline reg, or was the safety in the tank it's self.  I ruled out the tank option because both the tanks I had worked on the grill.  The flow control valve seemed fine until the gas shut off so it seemed to be ok.  So that left the inline reg.  I guess failing closed is what you want but what would cause that to fail and not be able to be reset?  I tried the various procedures for and hour plus.  Ok so I did a quick search and Brinkmann brand replacement parts were carried at home depot.  Not parts specific for the smoker but at least I could get an replacement regulator.  Got it installed it and it works fine.  It's a little shorter than the original one, but it works.  Only issue storing it as you can see the line doesn't reach the handle where the old line hung when not in use.  This seemed suspect to me anyway as it pointed the connector up as it could fill up with water and get into the reg.  maybe the shorter one i will leave connected but the tank off obviously keeping the connector protected?  

Now how can we insure that this piece of knowledge is found by millions?  Good tags? Reference the link in a few discussions?  I don't now but I hope one day this helps some guy that just wanted to smoke some meat without any trouble....