No, you were just looking for an excuse to talk about cookware.
Now who’s insensitive?
Not me.
There are some other ways to frame it, of course, such as " If you were starting your collection of cookware all over and could not choose the same types of cookware you use now, what would you choose?" It is indeed to prompt a discussion of cookware, and for the cookware geeks that is fun. For those who look solely at cookware buying as making the most practical choices to support their cooking it also holds interest. So much of life is second guessing choices, often to improve one’s self. There are not a lot of ways to frame general cookware discussions. Most of us either really like X or like X, Y, and Z. So these discussions often lead to the conclusion of “mix and match to suit your different needs.” This total transformation hypothetical really left me noodling over what I could select to replace carbon steel. The obvious answer for many would be cast iron, but my creaky old wrists hate stubby horizontal handles. CS gets so nice and slippery, but SS doesn’t. Aluminum does but to a lesser degree. I will not buy nonstick surface pans. There really is no great alternative to a CS pan with a sloping Lyonnaise handle? Or is there? I guess that it is for questions like that that we are searching for answers. If you have neighbors who have just lost everything in some disaster and you were putting together some cookware to help them start over, what would you choose. I had a co-worker who lost everything in a fire, and I chose Cuisinart’s basic clad, terrific stuff at a very good price. If I had FEMA’s buying power, I’ll bet I could do even better.
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More to the point, one’s choice of cookware is to some extent constrained by one’s “appliances”. An induction cooktop rules out aluminum, copper, or glassware unless specially constructed for induction. A microwave means non-metal cookware. (And cooking over a fire–if utilities are not working, or if you go camping-- has a separate set of requirements.)
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Your post triggered a memory from over 10 years ago.
Sunshine had an acquaintance that “escaped” an abusive boyfriend with (basically) just her clothes and not much else. She was attempting to borrow cookware from neighbors at her apartment complex. When I heard about this, I ran to IKEA and picked up a frying pan, pot and pan set and utensils. The pot and pan set had a 5-6 quart soup pot (and lid) a 3 quart sauce pan (and lid) and a small 1 quart pan. Everything was under $20. These weren’t great, but it was all the money I could spare.
When Sunshine and I dropped off this “cookware” you would have thought we gave this woman gold. She was so thankful to receive something to cook in.
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Very nice of you!
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A cookware replacement purchase would be a low priority on my FEMA expenditures. However, if the funds were unlimited and I could go without restrictions, I’d go for replacing what I have now, a hodgepodge of Revere Ware, Lodge c.o, Corning Ware, Zwilling nonstick. I’d be hunting down the older Revere Ware and Corning Ware at the thrift stores. I’d probably never find replacements for my 70 y.o. cast iron skillets.
Really? How else would you feed your family?
I once received FEMA disaster assistance, so I know a bit about how the process works. We were lucky–and extremely grateful-- not to have been completely wiped out as in my hypothetical. We spent a lot of what we got on reestablishing potable water service, rather than replacing stuff we lost.
I can’t say enough good about FEMA. The agency and its mission make me proud to be an American.
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I usually look at what my local Goodwill has when I’m in there but have never turned up anything that looked even remotely useful. YMMV.
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Good man, desert Dan! I’m doing the same.
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HEXCLAD? 
after it’s the only cookware Gordon Ramsey will use…
