I am tired of waiting and getting only dehydrated bread with a hint of color. Toasters these days just don't get hot enough! My sister has the family GE model we grew up with and having toast at her place (50yr old thing doesn't pop any longer) makes me want a REAL toaster too. Apparently others agree: http://www.flamingsteel.com/me-blogging-the-dog/the-last-great-toaster  I perused review sites but don't see any explicit HEAT rating. What criteria should I use in looking at manufacturers details?   Is speed equated with a hot toaster? Should I search for a brand that is considered fast? 
It's a bit tricky to tell from your question what your standards for "real" toasters are, and it sounds like you're exaggerating. Every toaster I or my family has ever owned has been capable of doing a lot more than dehydrating bread and adding a hint of color; they've all been able to burn the toast if you set them too high.  That said, at least as of four years ago, very hot toasters still existed. I have one of these, and it's hot/fast enough that the only problem I have is that sometimes when the toast is sufficiently browned, the center of the slice still isn't as hot as I'd like. I'm sure this isn't the only such toaster; if you look for negative reviews complaining of that problem, you can probably find others. 