we upgraded to this model for ease of cleaning being able to remove the control knob.  we have not been let down as far as that goes.  using the knob is another story, it works but it is erratic.  we have just gotten used to that and just accept it because it is so easy to clean.  what is absolutely awful about it is if one drop of water falls in the area of the controls, the whole thing shuts down and if you are not paying attention everything stops cooking and after you clean up the water it takes a bit for it to let you turn it back on.