big metal bowls kick ass,. you can mix in them without worrying about the bowl. drop them, etc. also you can microwave them most mirowaves these days are betetr with metal inside them and as long as there isn't close metal to metal for the sparks to jump ur fine (did you watch the Discovery channels myth busters? a peice of foil didn't do anythign but when fodlered liek an accordian the sparks jumped) also my microwave comes with a metal rack on the inside.
ALSO if your bowl happens to have double walls (hollow in the middle) it will keep cold thign cold longer and hot things hot longer
HURRAY FOR METAL BOWLS!