Recessed vs. surface-mount: which should I buy?

Threads on r/bathrooms and r/Homebuilding consistently say recessed cabinets look cleanest because they sit flush like a mirror, but recessing requires cutting into the wall and avoiding studs, plumbing, and vents. Surface-mount is the safer pick for exterior walls or rental-friendly installs. Many cabinets here (the Kohler CLC and Archer lines, the TEHOME, and the lighted models) support both.