Sheepdog,
Yes(I think) all the DSM coal stoves have over the fire air(secondary air) just some of them have adjustable knobs(basement units) that are visible, and some have it coming in the sides(circulator models). Your friends may be having trouble cause I think bit likes to be burned more like fire wood with air over it instead of under it. As for the mesh I don't know how hot that gets, I will touch it this winter(that won't help you much as you will probably have a stove by then). I would think it would get pretty hot as it is in direct contact with the stove. I will give you the # to the factory call them and ask. Ask for Amos he is really great to talk to, if he is not in just ask when he will be or leave your #. The # is 1-717-768-3853. Get a list of questions ready, Amos is a really knowledgeable guy with a good common sense of coal burning and stoves.
Have a great day, Eric
P.S. I asked him this week why no dealer lists my 130k circulator. He said when they build a new stove they run it for 10 years for testing to find any potential problems, before they release it to the dealers. He said it will be listed with them this year. On my model he said they redisigned the secondary air, they had one that had burned it out about 5 years ago. Although he said it was no real fault of the stove. A guy was trying to heat a mansion with one stove he pushed 8 ton of coal through it in 5 months way way over firing the stove. So they reinforced that area, so there would be no more issues and none have been reported