For me, the folding tines and loading options were significant. Serving pieces and parger bowls, mixing bowls typically need something to give to fit properly. I don't plan to use the water softener (might be a big deal if you have hard water though). and the interior light on the Benchmark (8 or 9, not on the 7) is not a big deal to me, but DH wanted the quietest possible. I needed a panel ready DW. Otherwise, I might have done the 800 series I saw at Best Buy, Lowes and elsewhere for $1079. It has most of the same features as a Benchmark in a stainless front. I don't know where you were shopping, but there are more models than any one place displays. I had to drive across town to find a Benchmark to look at, One place had nothing but a 500 series and a Thermador. Talk about a huge gap! Anyway, I think the 500 series is the right place to start looking and then go up if needed for the features you need.

I don't know where you are shopping, but no one has all the models. An appliance store that caters to builders and remodelers is probably the best bet for finding a Benchmark and they may be able to order the others if you want to order something you haven't seen. It is possible that a model has been dropped along the way -- have you loooked at any online vendors to see if they have it (AJ Madison, Yale Apppliance, etc.) or asked about the availability of the 7 model you are interested in? I even called the BSH showroom out in LA to ask questions about the models - the guy I talked to was very helpful. I found a 7 or 800 series at Best Buy that would have been fine if I hadn't needed the panel ready -- but I wasn't ready to give that up. That would have saved me $400 on the sale price, but I bought when I got a $200 rebate on the Benchmark so the net was $200 more than the Best Buy model and $100 more than the lower Benchmark (was $200 less but only had a $100 rebate). For a $100 net difference, DH wanted the quieter rating. We got the interior light and the control panel strip is metal rather than plastic (you may get buttons on the non-Benchmark rather than the flush touch controls). I have looked for the comparison chart I know I saved, but I can't find it right now. If I find it I will come back.

Hi Mary, Are you considering the 30" slide-in ranges? There's some other discussions about the Bosch Benchmark vs GE (comments by some with the single oven, others by those with two ovens). A recent thread (begun in February, new posts are still being added) is here: [Induction Ranges[(https://www.houzz.com/discussions/induction-ranges-dsvw-vd~5623487). Both Bosch and GE have hobs for 6 and 11 inch pans, additionally, the GE has an 8" size whereas the Bosch has a 9". The 6" for the Bosch is in the front right, the GE has the 6" element in the back on the right. Some prefer the larger hob in the front so you don't have to lift a large pot of water further before removing it from the cook top. Presumably the 6" pot is lighter, even when filled, even though you may be using it every day or far more often than the 11" hob. The GE 30" slide-in (Cafe series) has knobs on the front (numbered but you can turn it to ANYwhere in between the numbers as well) whereas the Bosch is by touch control on top (I believe they have half-stops, giving you greater control). The Bosch configuration may put the elements a little further back than the GE hobs. It is true that if you inadvertently touch the oven control panel on the front of the GE, the panel will activate (unless you lock it), an inconvenience as you are reaching for a pot of the top of the stove. However, if you do nothing (instead of clicking 'cancel'), it will automatically turn back off or revert to an oven setting if you were also using the oven at the time. Bosch has a count-down timer for each hob along with a kitchen timer and a stop watch (count-up timer). The GE's two timers are not delegated to each hob, but act for the unit. They beep a warning at the one minute mark. They do not count in seconds. Only the GE has a warming hob (not induction). The cookware doesn't have to be the exact size of the hob, so a 9" pan would work on an 8" GE hob, as would a 10" or 12" pan work on the 11" hob. The cookware has to be reasonably close in size; I don't think you can use a 6" pot on the 11" hob. The current flexzone on the Bosch looks more flexible than the GE synchronized elements (I believe they are on the left for both companies). This may be a new innovation? I don't recall it being that flexible when I was looking for a range. Whether the (Bosch) flexzone or (GE) synchronization is worthwhile depends on whether you might be using a griddle or something considerably larger than one element. When I was trying to decide between them I made up a chart comparing some features, you can see that (from Nov. 2018) and the discussions that ensued here: [GE or Bosch Slide-In Range discussion[(https://www.houzz.com/discussions/ge-or-bosch-slide-in-induction-range-dsvw-vd~5548823). I found it very frustrating that I could not find either the Cafe or the Bosch on display to actually see for myself. However, you have great people here who own these and are able to answer specific questions. You can also try to get an idea from videos. Both have oven control panels with blue lighting that should be easy for you to see, however, you will have a better idea after seeing a video if you can't see one connected to electricity in person. There is one that shows the Bosch, cook top and oven controls and oven here Bosch Benchmark Induction and Over the Range Microwave (the first 3:40 of 5:19 pertain to the induction range). You should be able to find a similar video put out by GE showing the features of the Cafe or whatever one you are interested in. You might find it helpful to look through the specs and manuals for each. The Bosch manual is here: Bosch induction range instruction manual (800 series and Benchmark) and their spec sheet (showing locations of each size hob) is here: Bosch spec sheet. Also see the GE Cafe manual and GE Cafe specs. Keep reading and researching and hopefully you'll be able to narrow down which trade-offs are more important to you. Hope that helps some.

Thank you guys. @theresa21 , I had a range in the past with the same overhanging glass top (and actually broke the top after a counter install because I was impatient and tried to move it in by myself!) and found that a grease combo would kind of stick in the crease between the counter and the top. Maybe that's not a concern with the Bosch. We shall see. @cpartist Thanks! Do you find that you get enough heat to the entire pan with the lower right burner? I suppose I could always use the bridge burner as a primary if the smaller right burner isn't enough. @Toronto Veterinarian I totally understand where you're coming from. My last decent quality range (in our old house before we sold it and became renters) was an Electrolux range. Given, the "screen" was separated from the flat top so thing were less prone to spilling on it, but I didn't find it to be much of an impediment, and quite like being able to just wipe everything down without needing to pull knobs to get under them. Plus I have a tendency to lean on the front of my range while working on longer cooking projects. Sounds like the Bosch is the ticket for me.