Christine Chase wrote:

> However, my husband hates the thing.

Hates the toaster, or . . . .

> He thinks it's unsafe because it's old (it's the one
> countertop appliance I always have to leave unplugged)...

.. . . because it's old? Or is that an excuse?
Is there an unstated pretext here?

Or is age really the issue here? The age of the
toaster, or . . .

> He hates that the only thing we can toast
> in it is standard size bread...

Mm hmm. Size.

> Nevermind that it toasts bread *perfectly* every time,
> evenly and without burning.
>
> So I'm tasked with buying our family an additional toaster

Tasked? That connotes burden . . . an unwanted burden
not of your choosing. Placed on you by someone else.

> that will toast bagels, waffles, larger-size bread, etc etc,
> and that he won't panic if I leave plugged in after using it.

You characterize his reaction as "panic"? Not rational?

> Anyone out there love their toaster?

And you want something you can love. A toaster.

It seems to me that there is really another issue
here -- a control issue. The toaster has become
a vehicle for exposing the control issue, but the
underlying problem is not really the toaster.

You can choose to act like adults and confront
the problem, or you can continue to play this
silly game, in which case the toaster you want
is clearly and unquestionably the Sanyo SK-KT21P.

This 2-slot toaster from one of the world's most
respected names in consumer electronics boasts
self-adjusting bread guides to accommodate
variable-thickness items, a cool-touch exterior,
six shade settings, removable crumb tray,
and internal cord storage.

But best of all, it has distinctive styling and
features which you will not find on any other
toaster -- features which will be a constant
reminder that you won the toaster battle, after
all. To see this monument to feminine victory,
go he

http://www.sanyo.com/appliances/hell...?productID=700