1)One of the great things about an open burner range is that the heat goes straight up and not to the side. I think choice of Culinarian/Bluestar is irrelevant to coutertop choice. If you should not directly put a hot pan from a GE Cafe range directly on the countertop then you shouldn't do it directly from Culinarian/Bluestar.

2)This is a tough one. Specifications in the installation sheet say 30" minimum to combustible materials,which include wood.IMO if you give the CC hard use it will char the wood over time but Capital says it is fine.

3)I would stay away from white or very light grout. I would stay away from mosaic backsplashes that require alot of grout. Becuase the grout could darket or become brittle. I would stay away from trendy picks like leather,wood,paperstone,fabric behind acrylic sheets type backspalshes.

I am going with SS with a leathered print directly behind range and crackled & beveled subway tile everywhere else.

Nothing wrong with Quartz or Granite or any stone counter top.
"Possibly" could have a minor problem with the Acrylics like Corian however even then only if you literally take a hot pot right off the burner and slap it down on the counter top, but just being "next to" the stove should be no problem.

Should be no problem with wood cabinetry above the range either as long as the stainless range hood covers everything completely.
Pretty much any tile back splash that is "glazed" or glass should be fine just as long as there is as little grout as possible. I wouldn't put a textured tile back there because it would be a nightmare to clean.

Although personally I love my Stainless back splash behind the stove because it was super cheap,(cost about $70 total) looks perfect between my stainless range and stainless OTR microwave, plus it is super easy to keep clean. and the added bonus that if anything ever happens to it like I hit it hard with a cast iron pan or something which would break tiles more than likely I can simply take it down in about 2 minutes and replace it with a new piece very easily.

deeageaux... Thanks for sharing the materials. That's a very interesting subway tile. When is your kitchen done? I would love to see the result. :)

Nunyabiz1... Thanks for sharing your experience with stainless steel backsplash.

Now, I have to rethink on the backsplash. Great to know though that I can use quartz. :)