During the 70s we hade (coal) grills where one could adjust the height of the grill by moving it up and down with ease. That simple functionality seems to have disappeared. Look at the common Weber grills, Green egg, Landmann, you name it. They all have fixed height on the grill.

The solution, it is said, is to put the coal to one side. Why? I ask. Why not just raise or lower the grill and use the whole of the grill.

Time to, not invent, not reinvent, but just simply pick up a solution that worked 40 years ago and still today.

Addendum:

Without being a historican I guess that changing the distance between the fire and the meat has been done since fire was put in use for cooking.