I ended up getting an Independent Incline on Ebay. Haven't installed it yet, so no pictures. But is was under 1K with a free blower - I chose 600, but could have gone for 1200 The bad thing is that I can't go with horizontal discharge after all - I have a very important post there. Will have to go vertically... The other thing is that the ebay folks at newenglandappliances where I bought it said that it has full warranty, but at Independent they said that they don't sell through the net so they doubted there'd be a warranty. They told me to call back with the serial number to check it out but I still haven't - i'm up to my ears in remodeling. But anyway, the hood was shipped directly from them (Independent), why wouldn't it have warranty?

I spent some time looking at your other post before running off to make a pie for the family. I do wonder what your duct set up is: do you presently have in line motors or do you vent to outside? Did you go with the Kitchen Aid Range? Do you know what your BTU's are on your choice, and where the largest diameter burners are? Usually at least one is in the front. As to the Imperial vs the Kobe, they both seem as they will offer what you need: a method of venting fumes with a good amount of cfms (720 vs 800) at a height of 30" (presumed). Kobe has the advantage of the motors and draw being right there (no long duct runs) as well as being serviceable right in your kitchen if need be as well as cleaned. And of course the increased depth for effluent capture. AJ Madison says Kobe is known as a "quiet" blower, used in Japan. It also has two motors, with variable draw increasing sound and pull. The Imperial also is impressive, yet even with looking at specs, I couldn't positively tell it was an exterior venter (squirrel cage). Do you know your needed duct circumference? Is it 7 or 8" round? The Slimline ducts only vertically, not through the rear. There is no adaptor so you must know vertical ducting is present. Imperial notes: "*Caution on Ducting: Transitioning a TW (twin duct unit) to a single duct will cut CFM output in half and will void the stated performance and warranty! There are many aspects, including warranty of the Imperial that I like. However, if your duct run is long that 800 cfm's will be reduced, perhaps significantly. Hence, if your new range is a power horse with BTU's, I believe I'd to with increase capture (21," aided btw, by your lateral cabinets as they reduce open space over which effluent travels), and inline motor fan at proper height. Your cabinet constraints are a situation where an extra 3" cabinet set back laterally (for less combustible fire hazard) is not negotiable. Looks good: both are nice choices. I'm glad you're closing in on the decision and hope this helps.

I can only offer my experience with baffles at 33 " above the gas cooktop. I have a Tradewind 1400 cfm liner 54" wide over a built in Miele deep fat fryer and a 36" Caldera gas cooktop with a large center wok burner. We have had this set up for over 7 years. We regularly deep fat fry and stir fry with lots of hot chilies and spice and peanut oil. I know the system works perfectly as the baffles are a mess of oil every single week ! That is a good thing. I shudder when I think where all of that oil would go otherwise. Also I can stand anywhere in my kitchen when DH is stir frying and if I was blindfolded I couldn't tell you what he was cooking. My woodwork and hood surround and open shelves have never had one drop of oil/grease residue on them. They do get dusty as we have a 120 yr old house :) Now as for cleaning the baffles. You are correct that if they do their job they will be coated with oil ,which mine are. Also I tried one time to put them in the dishwasher and was not pleased. Mine are very large and the top rack has to come out also which is a deterrent to placing them in the d/w. The way I clean them is to lay them in my large single bowl sink and spray them well on both sides with Greased Lightning . I leave them for about 10 min. I then take a 1" soft bristle paint brush and quickly brush in each baffle...take a few minutes. I rinse with hot water and dry with a dish towel and I am finished. After 7 yrs they still look like they did when installed. Best of all so do my cupboards and open shelves and walls ! It is worth the hands on 10-15 min a week to have a kitchen and home that are completely HOGS free ( heat/grease/odor/steam) when cooking and after. Hope this helps with your decision. If you have any other questions please ask. Here is a link to Tradewind. They are a wonderful company. c see the vent at work : baffles ( there are 3) Here is a link that might be useful: Tradewind liner

Any hood can go with a transition from round to rectangular if the dimension match - you need to check the specs and/or call the manufacturer.