Soap dispenser should only take one hole. If you're having a separate tap for your filtered water, one hole for that (instant hot can be in same faucet if you go that way). You have to go under the sink to change that filter but you might be able to have it mounted forward in the side of the cabinet to make it less painful. But you might prefer that space open for more frequently used items.

Faucet can take up to three (maybe 4?) but you don't want that kind, the one where you have handle in one hole (this is okay), spout in a second hole (also okay), and pullout spray in a third (these, frankly, stink).

I think you just have to gamble with splashing. Nobody can predict it. Taller ones will get more speed and splash but lower spouts make a mess when you try to use them. The solution is to get a Tapmaster and keep it on reduced pressure. :)

i've been reading a lot in the KWC site today.

Their faucets all have cartridges with an adjustment screw that you turn to limit the flow to level you want (as the maximum flow).

Their Systema faucets all can be made with a soap dispenser in the faucet body. In a small kitchen, or one with a clean look, this can be good. One less hole in the counter.

Some other companies make faucets with a third tap in the faucet, for filtered water in the same faucet. Or a separate tap alongside the mixer handle.

Hth

I bought a beautiful soap dispenser from a top faucet co and it broke after 2 years and since it was out of waranty for a short amount of time they would not fix/replace. Won't ever buy another soap dispenser or another faucet from them.

The under sink water filter we got, however, has been superb. It's by EWS and my brother got one too. Excellent. That is worth an extra hole in the sink deck.

Here is a link that might be useful: Water on the Web

kitchendreaming, there are many kitchen faucets with a mixer handle attached to the faucet pillar. These faucets only need one hole.

(My first post wrote about a soap dispenser inside the faucet stem of the main pillar, where there is a mixer handle on the faucet too.)

Thank you all so much. It is starting to make sense to me. More important, I realize a faucet is "not forever". As long as I stick to the same number of holes in the granite, a plumber should be able to change it...