Cast iron skillets do cook food much better and more evenly and retain heat better.
Cast iron skillets and pans are safe to cook in and have been used for over 100 years to safely cook food.
Cast iron skillets, pans and cookware are very durable and also retain the heat better to cook food more evenly.
I have a cast iron skillet that was made 100 years ago and I found it at a flea market for $10.00 and have used it a lot and I'm sure it would last another 100 years when cared for properly.
There is nothing unsafe or unhealthy about cooking with cast iron and many professional cooks also use cast iron to cook with.
As long as you season the cast iron skillet or pan or other cookware with some cooking oil after you wash it then it should last for several years.
Even if a cast iron skillet does rust it can be cleaned up and seasoned again.
I also bought me another cast iron skillet which is a Lodge Cast iron skillet this year at Dollar General for $15.00 and I'm sure it will outlast me and my children and grand children.
Cast iron cooks food much better and since I have been cooking with cast iron I don't like cooking with stainless steel or aluminum anymore.