And yet I would personally prefer cubicles to an open office plan. At least cubicles provide visual interruptions, reduce the overall noise, and provide a space for you to personalize.

I totally agree. Every argument I've heard against cubicles were actually arguments against poor lighting and lack of windows -- a well lit, green, many-windowed office that had cubicles would be much more preferable to open office plans.

Cubicles may be better than open space but offices are still much better