You nailed it for me. Cast iron was the original non-stick cookware. I am a huge Lodge fan, have even done the factory tour, which is only available one week a year.
Though in the Roman era, CI was probably still too expensive for that usage for most, versus usage for military items, transportation (axles and wheel rims and such), building hardware, etc.
Every time my wife and I visit one of those stupid places, we come out really heavy. ;-D
One really can't have enough cast iron cookware.
This is a symptom of some character flaw, I suppose.