I'd strongly recommend getting a gas range top instead of a cooktop. Much better placement of knobs. Bluestar makes a particularly nice model, but that might be more than you want to spend.

On the other hand, if you decide to get an induction model instead, then most vendors make only cooktops. Fortunately, with induction, this is less of a problem, as it only heats up the pots and not the knobs or the rest of the stove.

There are also rangetops which have the knobs on the side rather than the top. Although induction is the way to go.

the knobs on my thermador cooktop don't get hot.