I think I agree with you. I wouldn't want a wall light or a bar light either. Trailrunner has a wall light over her sink, but she is doing a very specific look, an 1890s kitchen

Proportion, yes, but also, Ravmd, what feeling are you going for? I've seen a wonderfully appealing wall, shorter than yours, but with traditional old hutches framing a single set of doors. The home I'm remembering is an old-fashioned English style, with the doors framing and concentrating a very pretty view into the garden. The kitchen was basically old white cabinetry and walls and wood floors, but looked cozy as well as bright and fresh. OTOH, looking out a very wide span of windows like Julie's would give your kitchen an entirely different feel. The associations that hop to my mind from the past are of connection to large living patios and pools, or maybe a panoramic view to the horizon (lots of those in Southern California). BTW, is your desirable view broad, or would editing out parts improve it? Are there any privacy issues? For what's in the picture you posted, my thought was keep the windows and the symmetry (I like them) but bring the upper units down to join the counters for a hutch/display rather than work counter look.

Keep in mind that no matter what the bar height you may need to try different stool heights. We have an island that is 37.5" high and had to find stools that were 26" high. The "standard" 24" were too low for us. I don't think the extra 1.5" of the island height is the issue. Even if we were at "standard" counter height of 36" the 24" stools would still be too low and DH and I are not tall people.

A friend of mine has an extra high wall (not certain of exact height but it is probably around 48") separating his kitchen island from his family room. Oddly, during gatherings, everyone tends to hang out around this island and use this half wall as if it were a breakfast bar. It makes eating and conversing somewhat difficult due to the height. Unless you have a reason to want to further hide the kitchen from the adjoining room, I would opt for 42" (standard bar height) rather than going any higher.