My test results for Philips HD 2686 Toaster Essential 1500 W:
to 1): the side walls are not hot, even after more than 10 toasts in rapid succession. Our old toaster was so hot that touching hurt in the operation. In toasters with very hot outside walls is combustion and ev. Even fire!
to 2): the toast results (browning) remains the same, even at 10x and more toasts in succession. This is an important quality. In our old toaster already the second toast was clearly brown and harder. We had to constantly regulate new. The Toast quality inspires us with the Philips device every day.
Yes, very easy off via a button and retractable: to 3). You need no extra component that is lost in a kitchen drawer / wanted. As a warming rack will naturally hot during use, it would be fatal if a separate essay falls by shaking at the table.
to 4.): Yes, the crumb tray also has a plastic handle which is not heated.
to 5): No, the cable is about 1m long, stowed in base. It's enough to our breakfast table with extension cord to the nearest outlet. In the kitchen you can easily set up the device, of course, in the 1m-close to a power outlet.
to 6): According to my energy cost meter, the power consumption is 2.3 watts per hour in normal operation with the illuminated display. In standby mode, the toaster switches according to the manual after 10 minutes, when my device already after 6 minutes of non-use. In standby mode, the display and the buttons (LEDs) are turned off. The standby power consumption is measured with my energy cost meter, 2.2 watts per hour. So we prefer to use the device via power plug from the socket (perhaps saves a bonsai trees).
The toaster has naturally taken on more functions such as toast degrees keystroke, cancel toasting cycle prematurely by pressing a button, a Defrost button, a warm-up button.
The processing of the toaster I judge as very good, you can see visually immediately "brand unit". For this purpose a stylish, elegant, high quality looking design (but appearance is a matter of taste and not KO-point).
The toaster is easy to clean.
The device I recommend (despite only 1m long cable and power consumption in standby mode) due to optimal primary function as a super-toaster unrestricted. It is our best yet toaster.