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…
You can get good sears on nonstick. We’ve done it for years.
Nonstick is easier to use and clean, but you’ll have to buy a new one every year or two, depending on how hard you are on them. Cast iron is practically indestructible in that you can almost always bring it back to usable condition; but keeping it usable takes more care. There’s also carbon steel if cast iron is too heavy for you.