I would choose the soffit. Like you, I'd prefer to have the cabinets all the way up, and I've only had that in one house. I also had floating cabinets, which I loathed, because they get incredibly dusty, as does anything one puts up there! I'd take the soffits for the clean factor.

^^Agree, use the soffit. You can dress up the soffit with moulding or trimwork. Or leave it alone.
See below examples

Agreed, either let the cabinets float or take them to the ceiling.