[Saintly]

I had a island hood in my old house and people where always having to duck a little to have a conversation in the kitchen area (why do people always gather around the kitchen?). when I took the hood away in favour of a down draft system it made a HUGE difference to the room.
a lot brighter, a lot more perceived space, a lot more social area.
I would never put in an island hood again. a wall hood is a different story but not an island hood.