Thanks for posting that pic! I'v been trying to get my island squared away and that really helps. I want one level but hate short stubby stools. The taller stools always look more elegant IMHO and this is a good way to get the change of counter to table without looking dated.

I bet the cabinets are built in place. Moving/removing might destroy them. You may end up saving the doors and having new boxes made. Then they can be any height you want. The sink will be a problem if you don't replace/raise the window, too. You need that sink for the feel of the kitchen if you want to keep the look of the cabs. It will probably cost the same to just buy new cabinets. But that doesn't solve the sink problem in the same foot print. And if you change the foot print then you've opened a new can of worms. Changing the window size would probably be the best thing to do.

I suggest doing your research on fantasy brown if you are considering it. It sounds to me like a marble. (Super white is another that is often billed as quartzite but is is actually usually marble.). Not that there is anything wrong with marble--I chose it for the ktichen in our last house, but I did so knowing what I was getting. Those countertop geology threads are really informative.

Here's my island in my kitchen and it doesn't line up with my back wall. Not one person has said to me that my island and the lights on it isn't centered on my back wall.The truth is you will never be looking at the area head on. Even if it were lined up perfectly, if you were to stand off to one side, then it would wind up looking off anyway. Just be sure to center the pendants over the bar and you'll be fine. I know it seems scary when seen on paper. In reality, it's a non issue.