Upstands with no tiles? Grubby walls?

[Worieddd]

Currently in process of sorting kitchen.
Have picked the Howdens Tewkesbury in Skye which is a lovely sage shaker style and an off white quartz for the worktops for our period house.

I was going to have metro style tiles around the entire border of cabinets/over the cooker. I keep seeing small upstands with nothing around. Does anybody have this? Do your nicely painted walls not get filthy?

Are glass splashbacks a bit naff? To be honest the cost of the kitchen (and utility room) are spiralling our of control but with a family tiling is a must surely?

I think the big wren showrooms are very helpful for researching layouts as they have many on display - but as for the style and quality - even before you get to service and installation - v questionable !