Gary - no, the 700 series didn't doesn't have "gills" at all. It's systems are down in the bottom of the unit and are completely covered by cabinetry toekick and / or the bottom drawer panel. It was the first unit to be TOTALLY concealed ( no trim, no fins, no gaskets showing ) and is for the most part unchanged since it's rollout in the LATE 90's !!!! - which is its biggest drawback today.

We have the 48" Northland built in side by side refrigerator. I love it. We are not bothered by the noise level. Our family room and kitchen are one big room so if it were noisy it would be a problem. I do hear it running but it isn't annoyingly loud. I just know that this refrigerator does an amazing job of keeping food fresh and the icemaker produces ice so fast we are never without ice. I love the metal interior walls and the glass shelves. I think that you will be very happy with your choice.

I just went and looked again to be sure. I don't think it looks funny at all. The panel is flush with the doors of the cabinet above. Those just transition to the doors for the pantry. And then there is a small filler strip between the pantry and the wall. Its a little bigger than 3/4", but if there was any need for balance, it gives it. This is all with simple shaker frameless cabinets. I presume what looks good may vary with the kind of box and doors, and the style.

Oh My Goodness- we had a VERY similar issue with our installation of our Sub Zero. Are you on Long Island by any chance? My advice: start raising hell with the appliance store as well as Thermador. Here's why: Basically we went with an installer that the appliance dealer recommended as you did. Ours did not know what the %*@# he was doing from soup to nuts...He left the refrigerator sticking out as yours is. He claimed the moulding/trim pieces (which creates the seamless run between adjacent cabinets and refrig) were bent. I didn't know any better so I believed him and let him leave with about 90% of payment...Long story short he just was not interested in finishing the job- lots of other issues- he actually did not know that the TOP moulding peice actually is what makes the refrigerator start running and getiing cold, so we thought we had a lemon--we finally had to call SZ and they sent out a technician who informed us that our installer did not know what he was doing and luckily the motor did not get burnt out from his incompetence. UGH!! I'm still angry after two years. Anyway, the "high end, exclusive" applicance store takes NO responsibility that they are recommending a hack. Call Thermador as well and tell them that the dealer/store is recommending someone who is botching installations. Also let the store know that you are telling Thermador about this situation. Good luck!!