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I have no idea of what problems they have other than Burnham took over the market in my area for a long time begining in the 80s-2000s. All you herd about from other contractors and personnel experience was Burnham leakers.

Residential and commercial and hot water was almost as bad as steam. Maybe they would last 15 years. We had one school system that built a bunch of schools in the early 2000s when the town expanded. Almost all had Burnhams and and the problems started when the boilers were about 10 years old and got worse and these were hot water jobs. Long been replaced.

I don't know why anyone would consider buying their stuff.

If you've added up the square foot EDR of all the radiators, that's the figure you want for the boiler. The boiler rating may say EDR, or may say square feet of steam. That's it. Not more calculation is needed.

Not a bit surprised that the existing boiler is bigger — perhaps much bigger. A common error. Don't do it.

Try to hit the total radiation EDR with the boiler rating — or up to 10 percent smaller. Don't oveersize.

Here is the illustration from Document 850105U.PDF above modified for 4 main takeoffs

I reversed the equalizer to install it on the opposite side and added 3 more main takeoffs. Your boiler installer should be able to follow this diagram. Also I find it easier to place the boiler in position and install the vent connector pipe to the vent exhaust location (chimney of power vent) first. This way you don't end up placing pipes in the way of proper venting.

So I have a solution for you to use in order to get proper estimates for your new boiler

On the left of the yellow line is what might have been there and why there is a capped off horizontal pipe on the header. On the right of the yellow line is an illustration of a replacement boiler with a drop header using both 2" risers from a boiler that has about 170,000 BTU Input with about 445 SqFt Net Steam Rating

The drop header will offer enough room to connect all 4 risers from the basement ceiling to the header with proper drainage to avoid noisy operation and promote proper condensate drainage to the equalizer.

Take note that the old original water line may have been about 20" higher on the original coal fired boiler that was there before your current boiler. The fact that there was so much wrong with the existing system when your first moved in tells us that the installer of that boiler may not have read TLAOS, and may be a contributing factor in the folks you purchased that home from to move out in the first place.

You now have a chance to make that system eve better!!!

Crown Boiler has a nice diagram with pipe sizes for your installer to use when designing your new system https://www.velocityboilerworks.com/documents/850105U.pdf This diagram shows only one main riser. your installer will need to modify in order ot accommodate the 4 risers you have.