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I wonder if there is a way to engineer a 'smart' toaster (no WiFi or major chip mind you) that could improve the detection of burning. Maybe the use of improved PID controller / ability to brown to your desired 'shade' of toastiness. Would be interesting to see!

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There is already a smart toaster that toasts the toast according to the desired browning level and not simply according to time. It even manages completely without high-tech. The only catch is that the model is 70 years old and is no longer in production. But there is a great video from Technology Connections on YouTube about it: The Antique Toaster that's Better than Yours Link: https://youtu.be/1OfxlSG6q5Y?feature=shared

I would love a toaster where the dial is a gradient from white to brown to black, and it uses a reflectometer (several?) to toast until the bread is the right color.

That was invented nearly 100 years ago, and was discontinued in the 90s (and the commenter above you linked to a video about it). I advocate for doing that kind of design upthread. In my personal opinion, they died out about 10-15 years before the new wave of high end kitchen implements would have justified the higher price.

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