That is really strange about the cast iron, Fuzzy. I only have an induction burner (to keep from heating up my kitchen in the summer, plus for portability), but it accepts CI, as well as 3 ply, as long as it is magnetic, as with All clad stainless. And there are NS in AC stainless, as well as other induction friendly lines - not something I would buy at that price, since you have to eventually throw NS away, but it does exist.
Maybe it is something to do with the CI being slightly off of the top, due to the ridge around the perimeter of the bottom, thus it "thinks" there is no pan?
I have noticed that my burner boils a gal. of water almost as fast as it boils on my range, but it goes down way lower, so I can simmer on level 2, and level 1 is barely shimmering. Maybe that range you will be working on has a temp. setting, so you can set that, since it has all those buttons?
I agree with you, Darcie, on the electronic aspects of all these appliances. My 26 year old range has never had a problem except with an electric glow starter in the conv. oven (minor problem...easy fix). Yet I am constantly hearing of people with new-fangled things dying out, due to the computer in them failing.
BTW, how was the bacon?
Dave