We had a cooking sink like that. I love it. But then we moved to a new apartment we left the sink. We decided not to buy another one. My husband suggested we try other kitchen appliances to diversify our diet. We both really like Asian food, noodles, rice, and hard tofu. So we bought a multicooker on which we can steam vegetables and cook soups and noodles. We also bought a tofu press because we love miso soup with tofu. You know, changing the way we're used to cooking really helps to diversify a diet and eat healthier foods. Now our diet is much less fried and fatty, and more steamed or fresh vegetables. I like that. As you may have understood, we are vegans.

I am also looking in to a SS workstation sink so your discussion will be great to follow. As for the cutting board higher than countertop, you could also pay a woodworker to make a cutting board THICK enough (with angled edge for sink ledge) to meet your husband’s wishes.

Any woodworker can make you the perfect cutting board. Also, try not to choose a deep sink. They are murder on a tall person’s back

"1. I know all stainless scratches, but the more expensive ones use 316L grade which is supposedly better - can anyone with one of the really expensive ones comment on whether they really hold up better or in the end they all scratch?"

They all scratch. More the shine, more the scratch.

"2. My husband is doing the food prep including cutting the vegetables and he is talI. So he wants the cutting board to sit on top of the sink opening, above the counter, so he doesn't accidentally cut the counter. Galley seems to make a cutting board that would work (their sink front to back is 18" so they make a board 19") but it costs extra on top of the base price (that includes a cutting board to fit on ledge but is lower than countertop). Is that the only choice?"

You could have a cutting board custom made without spending a fortune.

"3. Whichever sink people got, if you do a negative (or is positive) reveal so you can use the top edges of sink as one of the ledges, do you have any issues after a few years of water wearing away at the silicone and seeping back into the cabinet underneath?"

No. How large a positive reveal you can use to turn any undermounted sink into a workstation sink is dictated by the width of the sink flange which is usually 1". That would safely allow up to a 1/2" reveal.

Unlike a negative reveal, a positive reveal prevents the bottom edge of the countertop from getting chipped. In addition, it makes the tightest, least conspicuous, and maintanence free detail. Strap your sink in place, no clips, and the water will wear nothing away and you'll never have black/brown crud between your stone bottom and sink flange.

II don't understand "workstation" sinks. Why not just get a regular sink and buy or make a cutting board long enough to sit on the counter on either side of the sink? There are colanders and other accessories that are expandable specifically to fit across sinks. What am I missing?