I agree with the responses to the thread you posted on the Kitchens Forum which listed the negatives to an OTR microwave. No, an OTR MW is not sufficient, and will likely be damaged by the 15,000 btu burners of your Viking. And your own subject title actually says it - a $4,000 range with a cheap OTR MW--it sounds like you know they don't belong together. If you didn't want such range power, you would have been better off saving your money for other things and buying a Maytag or lower-end GE range. Those work very well, and your MW would manage them. It sounds like you are reluctant to match the exhaust with your expensive high-power range, which isn't very logical. Can you return the range for something more in line with what you want? If you do decide to buy a good hood, you should read the many threads on this forum about the various brands, or post a new thread asking for recommendations on lower-cost hoods. Ventahood is not well-liked on this forum, although there are some fans of it. But all agree that Ventahood is pricey. Many here are happy with lower-cost hoods bought on eBay. Regardless of brand, what you need is a hood that is 30" or 36" wide, 24" deep, 450-600 cfms (preferably 600), and has baffle filters (not mesh filters). Here is a link that might be useful: Kitchens Thread about Viking Range and OTR MW

if you don't have the room to go around the stud, cut it out and frame it in. say you need to put a 4" duct thru there, cut a 8" section out and then build a 8" square box to nail/screw in place. this supports the stud and provides a means for your exhaust.

Add me to the list of frustrated OTR microwave owners. I had to laugh/wince when I read the above comment by a fellow GE owner that theirs "doesnt even have enough bottom suction to hold a piece of paper up against the bottom intake vents," because that's exactly the experiment I've done. Mine is set to vent to the outside too (in a condo) rather than recirculate, which is ultimately just a giant waste of the cabinet above my microwave. Mine's a GE Profile PVM9195SFSS with a 400 CFM blower and a "Boost" mode. Boiling a pot of water results in nearly all of the steam going straight up, with some of it condensing on the front of the microwave and the rest going toward the ceiling. A friend of mine with a GE had her front control panel go out, and the technician said that's a common problem due to...yep, you guessed it. Condensation. For a truly miserable experience, anything seasoned with a little oil on a skillet spreads noxious fumes throughout my condo. The whole place stays hazy for half an hour or more. One trick I've learned that helps just a little bit is to open the microwave door when venting. More steam gets sucked INTO the microwave and then up and out than ever gets sucked up from the underside. I have an extended warranty, and I've thought about calling a repair technician, but based on what you all have said, that sounds like a waste. When I had a small dishwasher issue, the technician ended up doing more damage the first time than he fixed, so I'm wary.

I'm surprised by your comment about microwaves with trim kits looking gaudy. I've never seen one that looked terrible. Many companies sell them and they go hand in hand with specific models of microwaves so that it is a custom looking fit made to fit into a standard size opening (24", 28", 30"). GE, LG, Panasonic etc - they all seem to have them. Have a look and see if you can't find one that suits your fancy. They aren't expensive ($70-$120) for most that I've looked at and give a really nice finished appearance. Another option is the microwave drawer - the most common one is made by Sharp. I think they look great and many people like them at the lower level. That way, especially as you age you aren't lifting hot items down towards you, rather up onto counter level from the drawer. They are not an inexpensive item but look and function well and can be quite hidden if you put them on the backside of an island configuration.