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As a chemist, I think you're wrong on your ceramic theory. Here's why:

i) Thermal properties of ceramics (wether its alumina silicate hydrate or molybdenum-based) indicates no sublimation of the ceramic into gas phase. Operating temperatures are no where near the boiling points / critical points for ceramics.

ii) Lattice structure of ceramics. Super-dense, very tightly packed. Think glass. Wear and tear would not affect this structure in any important way, since it's not brittle at all. If you applied an enormous force to the heater you might crack big chunks off of it, but simply putting a bowl on top / removing said bowl causes an lattice stress that is insignificant...

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