We just finished our new home, with multiple 'layers' of lighting in the kitchen - round center fixture, assorted cans spaced over the countertops, 2 pendants over the island bar, and xenon puck lights under the cabinets. Due to the location of the can lights, there will be a little shadow under the cabinets and I often turn on the undercabinet lights as I'm working because of this. It would frustrate me NOT to have the undercabinet lighting.

Thanks, formula1! It sounds like your lighting plan is very similar to ours, so your feedback was super helpful. I think we'll have to go for the under cabinet lights now! :) Thanks again!

Rebecca

Go for the undercab lights. Often, that is all I use. For sure when I am working at the counter. I also have recessed cans. They are all on dimmers. One thing I would do differently is to have more than one switch for all my undercab lights. There are times when I don't need them all on. (I have 8). My counter is L shaped and sometimes it would be sufficient to have only lights over the sink or coffee pot/toaster on. You will never regret it. Remember, the older you get the more light you need. Sigh....

We just added undercabinet light to go with the can lights, and really like it. It was worth the time and money (did it ourselves).

Here is the lighting layout we used:

Here is a link that might be useful: 10k Kitchen Remodel

Those 2 lighting sources serve 2 different purposes and as others have said, there are different layers of lighting. You definitely need the under counter lighting for completing tasks.

One solution to the problem of a single switch for all undercabinet lighting - go with a unit rather than a puck. Juno and Kitchler have fixtures that contain 3 or 4 lights inside a thin fixture that mounts under the cabinet. Each unit has a switch of its own (Hi, low, and off). We haven't had ours installed yet, but we saw them on a mock-up in the showroom and they were very impressive.
Just one way to get around the very real problem you mentioned.