To me, someone who celebrates a bit more of the spectrum than most: Metal hot. Make food hot.
Non-stick means easier cleanup, but my wife seems to think cast-iron is necessary for certain things (searing a prime rib roast, for example.).
After I figure those out, then I gotta figure out gas vs. electric vs. induction vs infrared…
No it isn’t. You can wash cast iron with regular dish soap, unless you’re still using lye soap. The “cast iron is difficult to clean” stuff is corporate propaganda from Teflon.
The only thing you can’t do is chuck them in the dishwasher.
But mine usually clean with a quick rinse and 5 seconds of brushing.
Neat!