Who are you talking to?

I’ve never had an island. Always a kitchen table. I dislike sitting side by side - I’d rather sit face to face. I do use my table for extra work space, too.

Islands and tables are different surfaces for different purposes. It's not an either/or discussion. Islands are working spaces for standing work in the kitchen, tables are for eating and seated work. Whoever had the notion of having people sit at your work bench in uncomfortable tall chairs while you're trying to cook did us all a huge disservice.