Yes, for cooking and for heating. Wood stoves, oil stoves, gas stoves, and electric stoves.
Gas stoves were the most common before electric stoves. Electric stoves came around in the 1930's. The electric stove is more common nowadays, but has yet to replace the gas stove. So to answer your question more directly: They have not replaced anything.
It really depends on what you mean by "better." Electric seem to cook more evenly than gas stoves. Electric are also more popular. Gas stoves seem to be less expensive to operate over the long run and have a good performance on low heat because you can actually see and adjust the flame.
Electric stoves are not as good as gas stoves, it's hard to change or lower the temperature in an electric stove, but it is a cheaper option than a gas stove.
Erik L Johnsson has written: 'Study of technology for detecting pre-ignition conditions of cooking-related fires associated with electric and gas ranges and cooktops, final report' -- subject(s): Cookery, Electric Stoves, Fire detectors, Fireproofing, Gas Stoves, Safety measures, Stoves, Electric, Stoves, Gas, Technological innovations
Yes, propane stoves are considered to be legal in restaurants. Along with propane stoves, many restaurants have gas and electric stoves.
Gas kitchen stove are much faster to heat up than the electric stoves. Electric stoves takes a while to heat up. I myself would use gas kitchen stoves because they're faster and much more hotter.
Natural gas or electric=stoves Propane or charcoal=BBQ.
The difference between gas cooktops and electric cooktops it the type of energy used to produce the heat used to cook the food. The electric cooktop needs electricity while the gas cooktop uses natural gas or propane.
I do not think the taste from either the electric or gas matters but I personally think you can control the temperature better with a gas stove. You can keep a constant flame as opposed to a lot of electric stoves where the heat comes and goes. It just helps to control your cooking better with a gas stove, I think.
Depends on the location. Many rural areas in the US had limited electrical service. They were common in urban areas, along with gas stoves.
Many gas stoves use natural gas. Many homes across the U.S. use natural gas to heat their homes in the winter. Propane can also be used with gas stoves.