Decently smooth and seasoned cast iron can't be beat in my opinion. People spend a lot of money trying to meet their performance level. Decent US made cookware and a small amount of upkeep will keep you happy for generations. I've had good luck with Lodge after initially getting rid of the factory 'seasoning' and smoothing them out some. There are fancier (and lighter) makes out there too like Stargazer, Field Co and Le Creuset . Lots of old iron out there too with a lot of life left in them.
