Great questions, thanks for posting! I can't wait to see the feedback.

The lighting should def be toward the front. If the lighting is toward the back, it's mostly lighting the backsplash. There are so many good hoods on the market, bypass this one and get one with lighting toward the front. I actually didn't know DeLonghi made hoods - not a good sign. Buy from a manufacturer well known for its hoods. There are a ton of threads on this forum which recommend hoods.

My lights are at the front, and angle down/back at about 60*, providing very good lighting of the cooking area. Located in the back, they would need to point forward, which I think would be glaring, and bothersome to the cook.

Me too. Lights in front light up cooktop.

In my opinion, the lights should be in the back. The front burners will receive some light from the overall room lights, it's the rear burners that will be overshadowed by the range hood.

The "Rolls-Royce" of range hoods - Miele - has lights on the back on almost all of their models. Other European manufacturers, like Gaggenau and Futuro Futuro, also usually have lights on the back of their range hoods, or in the front but angled to the rear so they light up the entire cooking surface (see example via link).

Here is a link that might be useful: Concorde wall hood with angled lights

Just installed a new Zephyr range hood with LED lights at the front. While the illumination of the cooktop is great, the glare from them in my eyes while I cook is terrible. I am going to have to devise a filter or shield to block the glare. FWIW I am 5'8" and the bottom of the hood is mounted at 29" above the gas range (specs stated minimum of 26"), which was the same as the previous cheap under cabinet Broan hood. That hood had a light bulb mounted more towards the rear. Even if the hood were a bit lower I'm not sure it would totally reduce the glare, the lights are so bright. Live and learn.

My Wolf Pro Island hood came with halogen lamps on the front bar aimed inwards toward the cooktop. The lamp heat did require that the cook wear a hat. Replacement with LED-based lamps provides at least as good lighting without the heating. They aren't in the line of sight, so no glare.