How not to do task lighting

photo Location Works
Sometimes, the ordinary way to do the lighting is ordinary because, well, it works. Why would anybody want to have these excrescences instead of regular under-cabinet fluorescent strips or pucks? It is clear from the bright spots on the counter and the cones on the wall that these don’t even do the job particularly well.
What do you think about the bright little spots in the toe kick? They’re not exactly what you’d call subtle or atmospheric, are they? And the little halogen lights in the ceiling look to be spread rather thin, so to speak - too few and far between to avoid bright spots and shadows.
I have a feeling this kitchen suffers from a case of too much lighting and not enough light.