No problems with top controls here as well -- no fading and no burn out with our Bosch.

What is your DH basing his comments (opinions?) on?

Comments are based on the supposition that water and/or heat can cause an electrical short (not sure why top location should matter in that regard). I did read a review someplace that the control panel was no longer readable after a few months.

Pretty sure the rest of the DW will go first. :)

I've had a panel-ready Bosch with top controls for ~3 years. The buttons are as clear as they day I bought it. No issues.

Same here, have had my top control bosch for over 5 years with zero problems. The seal is behind the door, so the controls are nowhere near the water and chances of shorting out. Your husband should go look at them before mading assumptions.

Okay, the top panel on my KA doesn't get wet or steamy or anything to make me think it's in danger. All the water that leaks comes out the bottom.

13 years on my KA, no worn buttons on the top (front is a different matter, but it is just a 'Go' button), no shorts. The top of the panel never gets wet unless you purposely pour water on it.

Given our 10 year old KA control panel actually did fry (with a puff of smoke and a tripped circuit breaker) we're a bit sensitive to this. We hate the smell of burning plastic. This probably happened due to overheating and had nothing to do with the position of the controls, which are actually on the front. Otherwise it was a decent, but not great, dishwasher. We're leaning toward Bosch now.

The biggest issue with the top control DW's is the protruding handle that has to be factored into clearances for the cabinets. Which is why they are not interchangeable in a retrofit.

Bosch SHP88PW55N: No handles

My control panel (Fridigaire Gallery) did fail within a year, but that apparently had nothing to do with the placement of the controls. The repairman told me that it was an issue with the brand.

This is interesting--- I initially thought I would prefer top control just based on the looks. Then I kind of remember some people saying it was not so practical as the DW are so quiet, they had no idea if they were on or not. At least with the front controls you can see the lights easier. LOL. In any case I still have yet to buy a new DW so I am up in the air about it, but I never heard of the lights burning out.

"... the DW are so quiet, they had no idea if they were on or not." My Bosch 500 with top controls has a red light on the bottom of the door that shines onto the floor during a cycle, so I know when it's running and when it's done. (I usually run it overnight so it doesn't really matter, but if I'm running it during the day the light is helpful.)

Yes the light shining on the floor from the Bosch is a huge improvement over previous versions. I have that one, but my MIL has a slightly older one without the light. People are always opening the door when it's running.

My 15 yr old KA has top hidden controls and they are still just fine. I much prefer not only the look, but 15 years ago, my local grandchildren were 1 and 3 so I did not want controls they might mess with.

This well-rated (by Consumer Reports) Bosch 100 series dishwasher has front-panel controls and costs only $540.

Top controls on my 7 year old KA and absolutely no problems with anything. I actually love this DW. (Well, as much as you can love an appliance, lol!)

You can tell when my KA is on because a little glow from the light still manages to shine through. It's not super obvious though, and people who aren't looking for it won't notice it. It is certainly very quiet, even with the bottom toekick panel and insulation removed to facilitate wiping up leaked water.

I didn't realize they were supposed to look better with the top controls. I thought they were just supposed to be easier to see!

Thanks to all who chimed in here, top vs. front controls are no longer a priority for us. This leaves us free to debate other points :)

I recently purchased a new Bosch with front controls as I'm not a fan of the top controls. Look at the 800 series as you have a choice of several door styles with controls on front or top. I personally have never had an issue with my Bosch dishwasher and just purchased a new one as I did a complete remodel (recycled the old one). Model SHE878WD5N

Bosch 800 series is a bit above our price point. We have narrowed the choice down to the KA KDFE104HPS or the Bosch 300 series SHEM63W55N. These also offer a stainless steel tub and DBA ratings of 46 and 44 respectively. Both are more than we want to spend, but they check almost all the boxes. We've had KA for years so I'm leaning that way. No retraining needed.