Toaster ovens don't toast evenly because they all have protection
under the heater to preven stuff splashing up and down on them. My
B&D has them and I have thought about removing them but eventually
the quartz tubes would get contaminated from grease and crap.
I suppose that stuff could also make the tubes fail.

Yeah, by overheating.

My old B&D had Calrods. I'll keep an eye out for what you suggest.