I only have one new pot in polished stainless steel, but I did run to my kitchen just now to polish its interior with baking soda after reading your post. Actually, its a rice cooker with a ss pot but it does sit proudly on the top of my stove. :)

I likes my pots, the ss set and all its mismatched ss, iron and carbon steel mates.

Truthfully, I just found this forum and this is my first post, so anything I say about polished ss doesn't really apply since all my stainless steel ware are subject to scrubbing with SOS pads or a Dobie. (Not the iron or carbon steel.)

JMHO, but a cooking pot deserves showing its battle honors.

oldpots

Not worried about mirror finishes....my skill as a cook is inversly proportional to the pristine appearance of my cookware.
I agree, I don't like the anodized stuff....but sure don't worry about whisk marks and such in my stainless stuff. I use it, it gets marked up....that's just the way it is.
Linda C

Thanks guys! You're absolutely right, of course. I only had to think about my older pieces and and my darkened wooden utensils to remind myself those aren't battle scars, it's "patina". It's the right pan and good quality, so what am I worrying about?

Fortunately, it was still on the store shelf this morning, so it's now happily hanging on the rack. Now, what to make for dinner tonite to welcome it to collection...