The thing about induction is that the element doesn't heat up at all, just the pan.

So, putting a smaller pan on the larger element will heat up the pan, regardless of whether the cooktop has pot-size recognition? I wonder why this feature is listed for some models and not the others.

I have a GE 30" induction cooktop. On the GE there are certain minimum size requirements for each element. For example, the largest element (which I believe is 11") requires a minimum 7" diameter pan size. The size of your pan can be larger, but in order for the element to sense the pan, it needs to be at least 7". HTH!

What you quoted from the Miele manual is size recognition. Only the part of the burner covered by the pan will activate. Each burner has little lines that show the smallest size pans that will work on that particular burner. The first day our cooktop was installed I amazed my daughter by placing an ice cube on the burner next to a boiling pot of water. She expected the ice cube to sizzle and melt but it didn't.

I'm pretty sure they all have pan size recognition. Without it, induction wouldn't work. Whether or not they bother to mention it is another matter. Mine is over 20 years old and the manual doesn't mention anything like that but of course it's there.

I should mention that on my old cooktop, my 5" cast iron skillet is recognized on all burners, but my 5" triply only on the "special" burner. And they all recognize anything bigger (although I've only gone up to 15").