I would have checked to see how close the TV would set in relationship to the countertop along with the top space before mounting the TV. If I did so and realized my TV was nearly setting on the counter making it hard to clean underneath I would have pulled the wall bracket and use a small drill bit to explore to see if there was backing at the location needed to raise the wall bracket to have at least the same clearance as on the OE TV.
Even having the same bottom distance you would have had even more room at the top as OE.
Just how a Carpenter thinks I guess.
Of course it's always fun busting your Huevos.