Well, every summer I'm at a house in Italy where all the cooking is done with propane cylinders, 2 of them in use, usually 1 or 2 empty ones and some spare ones, all stored in the kitchen. Years ago when there was no power all the lighting was done with kerosene and propane.
I agree that modern electric cookers are quite good, but still gas ranges have some advantages (better heat regulation, faster reaction,..). Top here is gas burners and electric oven. Very expensive. Gas ranges are 300 Euro the cheapest ones, and gas is _waaay_ cheaper than electricity. That's also the reason why electric heating is completely nonsense here.
Most of the gas lines are as old as the houses they're in, not too tight, but by far not leaky enough to give explosions (usually result of tampering with the lines), and not nearly as botched as eletrical lines (1", 3/4" or 1/2" painted steel is the way gas lines are run here, still today, sometimes the joints are welded now, but many plumbers still thread and tighten the joints with hemp fibers.) You can continue using these lines as long as you don't extend or move them. Then you have to have them checked which usually leads to having them replaced. After changing the gas lines also all appliances have to meet newest standards, meaning you'll have to dump all appliances older than ca 15 years (maybe not even that). If anybody smells gas, s/he's told to call 128, Wiengas emergency number. Bad idea! Only thing they do is turn off the main valve, seal it and advise you to call a plumber. You don't need them guys for closing a valve!
