Get a couple of grates from an old gas stove to put over the top, plus a couple of other options like wire mesh or even a grill grate.
You can also get some metal rods and cut notches in the top to let you lay them across to do meat directly on them.
Rocket stoves take lots of poking and tending but most of the time you are right there anyway and people buy them because they like to tinker with fire.
You can use charcoal in them as well.