stillamistry, that is a wood burning fireplace converted to a gas fireplace using a Rasmussen insert

Is there a benefit to actually building a traditional fireplace and installing a gas insert or did you already have the fireplace built and then decided to go with gas? Also, it looks as if you do not have
A glass enclosure. I always thought that was a requirement with gas fireplaces ? Thanks for any information !!

This is a wood burning Rumford style fireplace ( that could have glass doors ) that we added a gas insert into.