I have the Gagg KG291. I think its appearance borders on art. To my mind, no other cooktop comes close in the appearance department. The bead-blasted finish on all surfaces is simply beautiful. Every burner has at least two rings of flame, the big center 17,000 BTU burner has three rings of flame. All of the burners provide very even heat across the entire bottom of a pan. You won't end up with a cooler spot in the middle of the pan Cleaning is a breeze. On a daily basis I can simply use a damp sponge and a spray cleaner like Formula 409 or Windex. All it takes is a swipe around the round burner elements. There are no nooks or crannies for grime to collect. A more thorough cleaning on a weekly basis, when I remove the brass burner elements, is also straight-forward and simple. I don't think I'd like trying to clean around the star-shaped burners on the Thermador.

I do have to share one additional experience with the IR broiler. I once broiled some salmon and left it in just a little too long and it looked burnt. The marinade/cure for the fish did have a fair amount of sugar in it, but was wiped off before hitting the broiler. I took a nibble of the crust and it didn't taste burnt so I served it, because the rest of the fish was really moist. Afterwards, my wife commented that the best part of the fish was that "burnt" crust. I had to agree because that crust was like eating a toasted fish "cracker" or "chip." I didn't use a dry rub, so that crust was all fish.

Igloochic, I don't in fact work for an induction distributor. I was deliberately non provocative in my post because I know, if I do not understand why, that many people are sensitive to the subject. I DID try to go out of my way to point out that my opinion is not shared by everyone and to include links to sources, such as the EPA that are generally considered credible. I find it dismaying that my remarks were were linked to a "terrible issue" and that I am accused of shilling for some corporation. Rocks and gas HAVE been killing us for years. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the US per the National Cancer Institute. It is associated with "15,000 - 22,000 lung cancer deaths each year". Please see the link to the National Cancer Institute for more information. http://www.cancer.gov/cancerTopics/factsheet/Risk/radon One of the reasons that indoor gas appliance use is now affecting asthmatics and allergy sufferers in a way that is showing increasing attention over the years is because houses are now being built to be more energy efficient. In other words, are newly "air tight" homes don't have the air exchange the older homes did so air quality issues in the home are much more prevelant. Please see this link by the United States Enviromental Protection Agency. It will provide several links to other articles by the same governmental agency explaining that the process of "weather" proofing your home can decrease interior air quality as well and additional mechanical means of bringing in the new air to flush the old affected air should be instally. http://www.epa.gov/iaq/ia-intro.html It's possible that you can match my links to the Eviromental Protection Agency with some more "silly links" that say induction use will give you cancer. I was never making a statement about induction. I was only speaking about statements our own goverment is making about gas appliances in the home. As for having sex on the countertops I doubt that would be an issue. But if you were having a good time on the countertop for about a few hours a day (the average time spent standing at that same countertop for prep/cooking/clean up for several meals) then I might be worried. I am NOT telling you not to buy gas. Nor am I telling you to buy induction. What I am saying is that the phrase "I have asthma and I live in a house with gas so it must be fine" in nonsensical. If you are perfectly well and live in a superinsulated house with gas appliances that would mean something.

I make pizzas so I need wall ovens that can go up to 550F - but I'm looking for a combo wall oven (top micro/speed; bottom true convection) and this is what I've got: Thermador Masterpiece or Pro Bosch 800 series (Benchmark only 450) Monogram (no combo oven, would have to stack) GE Profile with Advantium top oven KitchenAid (what I currently own and love but I'm shopping for a new build kitchen) Not considering Miele or Wolf but I can't find my notes. I think they were out due to lower oven temp. The rest of the kitchen will be a Bluestar rangetop (upgrade from our current Wolf range) and SubZero 48" SxS (same as what we have now) and Bosch dishwasher (we love ours, so quiet in open floor plan).