With my slide-in Eluctrolux induction range, I'm fine using pots ~1" larger (or smaller) diameter than the hob its on -- talking about bottom-flat diameter here, not the (normally used) top of the pan. A 12" canner should be OK on the 10" hob; I'm less sure about a 10.5" stock pot on the 8" hob, although they'll fit side by side together (my cooktop width is 28"). Others here are looser about matching pots to their induction hobs; how picky you need to be may depend some on a particular brand and its sensors, etc. Plan on having Clearance on either side of the front of my slide-in range was a problem, because E'lux didn't say they assumed US style face-frame cabinetry rather than the European style frameless cabinets I have. Although both my oven doors are just a touch wider than 30", the top ~2" part of the range, in line with the corian countertop, is 31.5" wide; this tapers down to the oven door. So, your 7/8" clearance will be fine unless the door/drawers get too close to the bottom of your countertop. [Again, I'm assuming the freestanding model is the same as my slide-in E'lux; it may not be.] In my experience, my range was trickier to install than it should have been: e.g., it's picky about placement of the electric outlet in the back wall, and I needed a (free) service call from the local dealer to level it. It would be great to have someone around who's installed this range before. Given that you may need to order these brands online rather than from a local dealer, you might want to feel especially confident you can return stuff and get installation help, if needed.

Ya-think - you've got the right 3 options - option 3 can be done without seams by cutting out the area in front of the strip but then you'll be paying for the full amount of the cutout - I think most people choose option 1 or 2

If it comes fully assembled, I I would have them put it in place. Assuming your gas line is in the right place with the right shutoff, all the installer will do will be to slide it out, then hook up a flex connector to the gas line, plug in the electrical cord, then slide it back and do the tuneup. Note that mine came in a box strapped to a pallet, so I had to put on the feet as well, so if it comes on a pallet, you probably won't be able to put it in place, but will have it placed nearby. Those plastic sliders they sell at hardware stores are great for going on the feet - they will protect the floors, and make it easier to slide out.

We're probably going with a slide-in range (electric) in our remodel, but I have one question about installing them: obviously you get the nicest look if you do a cutout in a continuous run of countertop, but I see that every range I've looked at also offers the metal piece to use when you don't have continous countertop behind it. This is a very budget reno, and if we didn't need a cutout we could do prefab granite (gets more complicated because of length if we do the cutout), or with a wood counter it would simplify life by not requiring a join somewhere that would have to happen if we did the cutout because of the length of the counter. Is there any structural reason why the cutout would be preferable? I realize that aesthetically it's the best option.