Drawer. I've been using mine for a few months. I'm 5'8"ish and don't find the height to be a problem. It's really not a bend to get in it, maybe a small lean when picking up something heavy and hot. I'm easily annoyed, but this movement doesn't bother me at all. I like being able to look straight down on my food or bev rather than peering up and in on my toes. I have the Sharp drawer that opens/closes with push buttons or with a gentle tug/push to get the door started. I haven't spilled anything in it with either method. The closing is fairly gentle so as not to cause spillage. Initially, I resisted the idea of the drawer and couldn't figure out the appeal. Now that I'm using it, I really like it. I bought mine as a refurb from a reputable ebay seller. Saved hundreds!

Doesn't it use microwaves to keep the food warm? If so, does that mean you couldn't put a pot in for warming? Just food in dishes? That might be all you need. I have three ovens. The other night, my ovens were full and the tsimmis (root veg and fruit dish) was in my 9-qt. cast iron bean pot on the stove. Various distractions got it started late, and there was no way it was going to be finished on time, so I kept a casserole out and put the tsimmis in the oven until the casserole absolutely had to go in, then finished it in the warming drawer on med-high. You might not have such a big pot full of food to keep warm, but would you ever have occasion to put pots in your warming drawer? Or even foil takeout containers? Do check to make sure they can be used in the MW drawer.

I have the Sharp 24" MW drawer (KB-6524PS), and I have a KA WD under my ovens just across the aisle. (The slab drawer front with the hole is the WD. Slab will be replaced with a Shaker front soon.) I use the WD multiple times a week and love having it. Even DH, who sceptically asked if we needed one when I announced the purchase, says it was a great idea. I warm plates, proof yeast bread/rolls, keep DH's dinner warm as he never makes it home before 7:30, keep part of a meal warm when I've accidently or purposely completed a dish before the whole meal is done, kept rolls warm, kept pancakes and the like warm. My WD heats up faster than my oven and is more quiet! If I HAD to choose, I'd go with the MW. I'm semi-tall, but don't find the drawer height an issue. (I had been very concerned about that when laying out my kitchen.) I use it daily to warm leftovers, melt or soften butter, etc. I don't cook in it, but find it invaluable for daily kitchen life. I need to start using some of those fancy features!

There are many panel ready warming drawers but I've never heard of a panel ready microwave drawer. I would guess that they aren't readily available because of the venting, whereas a warming drawer doesn't get very hot and doesn't have fans unless they're add-ons to be features to sell you on one or the other. The big issue with paneling warming drawers is the fit. Dacor makes a shallower one that will fit in cabinets that are meant to be finished at 24". Most require the same 25" that other flush integrated appliances do, which is easier to find in true custom cabinets than stock. One way you can make it work, if you have chunky doors, is to have the drawer panel ripped down to a thick veneer. My Monogram has the light, and came with a red plastic disk to put over the space drilled over the light in the panel, but I never had it put in. I just keep track of whether it's turned off or not. :) If you like to drink a lot of wine and forget what's in the WD (lots of people talk about finding week old pizza), the light is a good thing to install. :)