Actually, looking closely at the 45s and Akizukis, I think both their VLS modules are ~1.8m above the deck. Both of them are a little taller than a sailor's height.
Whereas a 054A's VLS only protrudes around 80cm.
Iron Man probably should've said "within a metre or two" as opposed to "a few inches to a foot".
Hmm but if he said "within a meter or two" that changes the meaning of his statement. And "within a meter or two" is a massive height range as well.
Also, now that I look at it, Akizuki's VLS protrusion is fairly different to Iron Man's original statement as well and is more similar to Type 45, and quite different to 054A.
In fact, the Akizuki class and its preceding Takanami class, Type 45, as well as the Mk-41 VLS on the RAN's refitted OHP class frigates, all protrude more than "a few inches to a foot" from the bow deck level.
If one wants, one can even include the German Sachsen class FFG in that category, although I think its elevated VLS platform is much more of an integrated topside structure (though I don't mind if it's included with the latter group or not).
Frankly, reading Iron Man's statement I have a feeling he meant "a few inches to a foot," and was probably thinking about the height of the 054A's VLS protrusion from the bow deck as well as that of a Burke+derivatives, Tico, 052C/D, and maybe the Horizon class, rather than Type 45+Akizuki/Takanami+RAN's upgraded OHPs+/-Sachsen class.
Putting it another way, I think the question we're asking is in two parts:
1: whether the Type 45's VLS protrudes "a few inches to a foot" above its bow deck
2: whether the majority of surface warships have their VLS protrude only "a few inches to a foot" above their bow deck
Regarding 1, I think the Type 45's VLS deinitely proturdes more than a few inches to a foot above its bow deck
Regarding 2, I think there is a sensible statement to say that the majority of the world's warships with VLS on their bow decks, have their VLS protrude only "a few inches to a foot" above the bow deck (considering how many Burke deriatives there are + Ticos + 054As + 052C/Ds etc). However I'm not sure whether the majority of the world's warship classes with VLS on their bow decks have their VLS proturde only "a few inches to a foot" above the bow deck.