Ceramic burners are supposed to have the advantage of heating the boiler, besides through the hot combustion products, also through direct radiant heat ( because the ceramic glows and radiates heat - that's the non-scientific explanation).
In my experience this can be an advantage in boilers where a large heating surface can be very close to the ceramic burner: horizontal boilers heated from underneath, vertical boilers with a wider surface directly over the burner etc.
For boilers of the centre flue design (vertical or horizontal) I think the benefits of a ceramic burner can't really be noticed (since only a small heating surface is in direct proximity to the burner, to receive the radiant heat) and you can use a torch type burner with the same or perhaps even better results.
