here is what the space looks like now

Perhaps live with it as planned and after you recover from "construction" you can evaluate and make a more rational decision.

You already have a backsplash…that 4” piece of countertop material. If you want a tile backsplash, remove the 4” strip first. Backsplash on top of backsplash is a very dated look.

You make it sound like you didn’t expect the highback on the range, when you say, ” but this is what I have to work with at this stage in new home construction.” Who chose that range? Highback ranges are on the low end of a manufacturers offerings. For a slide in range without the highback, you’d have to up your budget.

Personally, if you are too exhausted by construction to pull off the 4 inch backsplash, I would leave as is. Take some time to regroup and then start the backsplash process properly.

Yes, a splatter shield behind the cooktop is always a good idea. Our current one is granite, but I've often used stainless steel before. Tile isn't a great idea because the grout will accumulate grease and crud-- this is a place to use a solid, smooth surface. Functionally, a sheet of stainless is about perfect even if you use tile elsewhere.

There were a lot of things I had choices about in the home building process, and some that I didn't. The range and 4" backsplash were not things I had choices about with this builder. Right now we are very close to applying for the CO and it's been a long haul.

I've read a lot of other posts about backsplashes and dealing with a 4-in quartz or granite slab splash and I know it's not ideal, and definitely I have gleaned that it's not advisable to tile above the countertops without removing it.

I was just specifically wondering about the area behind the stove and if that could be tiled without messing with the slab backsplash. but sounds like the general consensus is that I should leave it alone until some point in the future when I have the time energy and money to tackle the whole thing.

If/when you do tile and if you don't want to change your stove, just have them tile as if the stove didn't have the back piece. That's what our tile guy did for us (unasked, but bless him for it!), so when we changed to a slide-in stove the tile was already there, no problems.

Yep @milkweedpwillow - you're in the home stretch, now. I'd breathe, focus on finishing up and moving in. Give yourself some time and then embark on the backsplash project. You could always explore selling your current range and upgrading to a slide in range. Removing the small quartz and installing tile is a much smaller and manageable job than what you've likely endured in a whole-house build - but it can definitely wait.