Thank you both so much for your suggestions. I am feeling like I am really leaning toward induction, but I am disappointed as I just read rave reviews on Elux ovens, but awful reviews on their cooktops, and vice versa for Bosch. If I could install a Elux oven under the Bosch cooktop I think Id be very happy, but Im not sure if that can be done. I don't want anyone voiding my warranties because we mixed appliance brands. I could possibly put my oven in my island? Glad to see I have an option to get a very professional gas range if I go that route. I'm not sure yet what the discrepancy is regarding the size of the hood. Would a 20" pass inspection and adequately remove grease & odors or not? If it would, don't know why I'd need bigger? But if it wouldn't, think I better look for more affordable range, if I go that route. What type of hood would I need for an induction cooktop? I believe the requirements are lower? Induction sounds like it would fit me best, especially since I've never used gas I think maybe I just don't know what I'm missing. But I have to figure out how to get a decent oven in an acceptable space.

We had a Dacor Preference 36" gas cooktop installed two years ago and absolutely love it! It's stainless, super easy to clean underneath the burners, and all the burners are dishwasher safe. It has five burners, two of which have a low simmer function which is unparalleled, as far as I'm concerned. The knobs are on the top. Our previous electric cooktop in the same area was a downdraft, so we had the disappearing downdraft venting installed with the new cooktop, and are delighted with how well it draws. Total cost of cooktop and vent installed was less than %1,500. If you check the link, click on the Preference feature. Unfortunately, it only shows the 30" model which has only four burners, the 36" model has five. Here is a link that might be useful: Dacor Gas Cooktops

Comom27: I've got an old Thermador 5-burner gas cooktop. I've had this unit in two different homes. None of the burners align in a row. When I use a griddle, I have to adjust for the different BTU size by adjusting the flame. Sometimes I do better than others. This alignment issue will happen in other brands, too. Jan_in_davis: I'm replacing a closed burner Thermador cooktop for the Bluestar 6-burner Range Top. I want to go back to open burners. I am replacing a Thermador 5-burner sealed gas cooktop. It is a 15 year old design. It's okay. If I had to select a gas cooktop and by definition no open burner, I would look at the Thermador cooktop. But, only if I could get it with the star-shaped burners. The star-shaped burner is an excellent design. I think everyone else is pretty much the same sealed single ring design. I seem to remember Wolf having a double ring design. Other than this difference, it makes it pretty easy to compare BTU's. It sucks to have a stainless steel cooktop. Greasy stuff gets on it, burns in and only scrubbies, steel wool, brillo pads and elbow gease remove the blobs. Inevitably, you end up scratching it. My old black enamel Thermador cooktop didn't show the baked on grease blobs nearly as much. The electric ignition does randomly spark upon occasion. Usually, after I clean the cooktop. Soap or cleaning gunk will get embedded in the igniter. This causes random sparking. It goes away if you will start up the burner of the offending igniter for a minute or so.

I purchased the Wolf when we remodeled our kitchen and I loved it. Performed flawlessly for the 10 years I used it before I moved. I don't can but I have used a huge canning pot for other purposes. At some point a big enough pan is going to encroach over other burners on just about any cooktop. Will you need to use all the adjacent burners when you're using the largest pots/pans? Personally I would never buy any GE appliance other than a microwave based on the problems people I know have had.