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…
non stick is fine if it’s seasoned or anodized.
i have anodized non stick and it’s worked for over a decade. it’s not cheap though, easily $80 a pot/pan.