A Pro & A Con

In regards to owning a flat top cooking stove...

Pro: The flat top is perfect for creating additional counter space when needed, especially after, say, a party...or something.

Con: Well, hypothetically speaking, one extremely tired individual could accidentally turn on the wrong burner when trying to make a cup of tea and accidentally catch an entire box of jumbo matches on fire since the flat top stove is serving as extra counter space for items that did not immediately get put away after a little boy's birthday party.

Then, hypothetically speaking, the fire alarm would go off for at least five minutes, and a little family of three would need to huddle under blankets while, in the middle of January, all their windows are open to air out the thick smoke that now fills the lower level of the house. And hours later, when someone comes down stairs for a drink of water after going to bed, the kitchen may still smell like a soggy camp fire, giving one serious concern about how long the smell may actually take to evaporate.

I'm just saying.

That could be a possible con or disadvantage.

Hypothetically speaking, of course.

And on one last hypothetical note...the blaze was actually quite small when discovered. The thick smoke resulted mainly from sulfur in the matches. Absolutely no other items were in danger of also being caught on fire.