I've had electric, gas, propane and wood stoves in my home.

Propane has its limits but will do in a pinch.

Electric is O.K. but it has no soul.

Gas is pretty darn good but the oven and broiler are a bit tricky.

The best of all is wood, especially if there is a warming rack and water jackets. Perfect temperatures all around the stove top and the oven cannot be beat. The warming rack holds four loaves of bread. Of course there is no broiler but you can always resort to the great outdoor barbeque.

Everyone tries to improve but what is wrong with heat, hot-water and cooking stove all in one? Oh yeah, pollution but then again, with all the destruction caused by dams and gas lines, maybe burning wood was not such a bad idea.