Sorry I got to this topic so late. I thought I'd put my dos centavos in as I sell appliances for a living (a couple of my brands Have been mentioned in other posts).

Electric cooking is cleaner, no schmutz on the bottom of pots and pans, but it is generally less controlable as some have opined. If you ever go into a restaurant kitchen you'll find only gas burners for that reason. Electric is better for baking, gas for roasting, which is why some high-end ranges have both electric and gas ovens.

Electronic ignition is better than a standing pilot because it saves energy. In the event of an electric outage, those ranges may be safely started with matches, so one needn't worry that they cannot cook during that time.

May I suggest that you buy from a reputable local, independant dealer rather than a big box store. The prices really are comparable excepting possibly the the advertised item. And if you consider the long life of an appliance, you're pay a premium of only a couple of dollars a year...if that...and you're helping a neighbor stay in business.----John OTSC