To me, someone who celebrates a bit more of the spectrum than most: Metal hot. Make food hot.
Non-stick means easier cleanup, but my wife seems to think cast-iron is necessary for certain things (searing a prime rib roast, for example.).
After I figure those out, then I gotta figure out gas vs. electric vs. induction vs infrared…
My big question with older cast iron is had they been used to melt lead down to make bullets? I know it’s at least an occasional concern - another reason along with the cleaning issues and having them always smoke up kitchens to happily avoid them. I would refuse one as a gift, even.
More likely to make fishing weights I would think. That concern is why I don’t have any old cast iron.