A survey was done. People with self-cleaning ovens used the feature on average only once a year.

Here is a silly way to look at this. If the feature cost you $800 more than a non self-cleaning oven and the stove lasted for 16 years, it would cost you $50 bucks every time you used it. That bottle of Easy-Off^TM doesn't sound so bad now, does it? The other part of the survey showed that among those with a self-cleaning oven, most would not buy another oven without it.

Personally, I think it is a feature that harkens back to the 50's, when they promoted the "kitchen of the future" as a fully automatic, pushbutton and sterile environment. I am as lazy as the next person is, but I would never ever let a feature that has nothing to do with cooking, compromise my cooking capability in any way. Make it a low priority and remember on gas ovens what a strain it is to get a gas system up to 900° F.

If you get an electric convection oven with a gas infrared broiler built-in and with self-cleaning, you're a winner. The only thing better is steam injection. Just keep cooking capability your first priority.