Compare to a stovetop where there's a big heavy pot between the element and the water, and it's not in complete contact with it. Also often the heating element is underneath a piece of glass.
You’re describing resistive stovetops, not induction ones where the heating element is the bottom of the pot itself.
> Also often the heating element is underneath a piece of glass.
These things under the glass do not heat anything. They are there to induce some electric current in the bottom of the pan you put on top, which actually does the heating.
Glass infrared cookers also exist, my parents had one back in the 90's before induction was much of a thing. It was touted as easy to clean (and looks cool)
They are mostly historical curiosities now, right? Not as cheap as simple resistive cookers, and worse in about all respects than induction ones.
They're awful though, I've only got one because I'm renting. The old school exposed spiral element ones are the best non induction electric stoves imo.