Kathy

You are right about the replacement- the new warranty alone is worth the difference. However, if you put a new top in yourself, which a handy person can do, you can save a few hundred dollars on the repair. The biggest problem with the crack is the issue of cleaning the top. Some owners have used engine epoxy, which is heat resistant, to repair the crack, it is not elegant, but it seems to work for a while.

I just got a new Kitchenaid range two weeks ago. It has a black ceramic cooktop and it's driving me crazy. You can see every speck of dust and fingerprints. I clean it with the special cleaner each time after I finish cookng. No one told me how hard you have to rub to get it perfectly shiny! Also while I'm cooking, I clean with a soft cloth.
Funny, just as Barb, I purchased a set of Cuisinart cookware since I didn't want to use my old set which has aluminum as a base. Pieces of aluminum can get embedded into the glass.
I already have some very tiny scratches and I do not slide the pots around. I am so careful.......it's ridiculous...I have no idea how the scratches got there. (I'm afraid to breathe near this stove!!)
I love everything else about this range but I am ready to sell it because of the ceramic cooktop hassles. What will this cooktop look like in a year from now? Apparantly, the ceramic is made by Schott. I'm wondering if there could be a defect. I much prefer the solid burners on my old stove.