I figured the fish would produce C02, and besides that I like the more powerful lighting. I hate my current lighting, crappy little light for a 20long trying to light up my 40b. That's why it's not planted, because of lack of lighting. Anyway, the 75 won't have a lot of real plants, but enough to make it interesting. Maybe I'll get a CO2 system when I'm done with everything else, maybe not. Depends on my POV at the time.
I'd say, based on this, you should get whatever light you wish. If "too much light" creates a problem for the few live plants you mention mixing in with the artificial ones, then skip the live plants, if your preference for a bright tank is greater than that of a planted one.
I am afflicted with low vision. I started out with the two, single lamp, 18" T8 fixtures that came with my 55g. I upgraded that, eventually, to a twin lamp, 48" T8, which I eventually upgraded to a twin lamp T5HO. I have replaced the 55g with a 75g and now have both the twin lamp T8 and twin lamp T5HO on it, because there is room for both over the glass canopies. It's nice and bright, from top to bottom, when it has finished fishless cycling and is completely set up, I should be able to see my fish and artificial plants quite well.
I was going to go with some low maintance plants originally but after reading all the post and info about too much light with no CO2 and all that jazz, I decided to stick with artificial plants. As a matter of fact, untill reading this thread, I was considering doing what you wamt to do, have the artificials and a few simple live ones blended in but if that means I need to use CO2 and in turn, I am assuming, fertz, then I opt to sitck with the artificial plants (nice silk ones, not plastic). On a monthly basis, I can't afford to maintane fish and plants both.
But I will agree that a four lamp or two twin lamp T5HO fixtures might be a bit much for a 75g. A twin lamp T5HO fixture is nice and bright to me with my low vision, I would then assume that to a normally sighted person, it would be quite bright.
Just my experiences and opinions, offered to you, for what they're worth to ya...good luck and remember to enjoy your aquarium.
