I've had these older boilermakers for some time. I've never had any problems with hot metal. The only portion that I have to worry about is the ball valve when the propane burner is up really high (normally when it's windy outside) I can't imagine the pot handle getting hot enough to need rubber...
I've got blichmann gear back when I felt it was quality stuff. I have to say that this pot is hideous.
There is no way that pot was designed with the home brewer in mind. It was designed for "show" and revenue for parts needing to be replaced. It was not designed for function or longevity...
