This, just commented the same over at HaD.. The currently best microwave UI is two dials, one that winds up the mechanical timer, one that selects the duty-cycle of the magnetron.

Funnily, I found this really expensive, but slightly broken microwave in the trash some months ago, and fixing it up with my own controller is still on the to-do list.. (sure, I could easily afford to buy a new one of the same model, but I could never make myself spend that kind of money on a microwave)