I agree on the bubble windows. They are great in my C180 for shoulder room. That’s about it. I’m 6’2”, 250lbs and anything that gives me more shoulder room is a positive.
I also own a M5-180C Maule. Both front windows open (up to 120mph) and there is no comparison. Both windows completely open up against the wing are something I can’t do with my C180 with 4” bubble windows.
The Maule, in my opinion, is THE airplane for low and slow SIDE BY SIDE flying. It’s a much smaller cabin and is frankly a little small for me, but it will haul a load, and the windows, skylight, patroller and cargo doors are hard to beat.
It ain’t no C180 (I own both the Maule and a C180), but it wasn’t built to be. It’s a different airplane. But for what the OP specified, you can’t beat a Maule

What about one of the new 3 or 4-place PA-18s that Airframes Alaska is making? Not cheap, but seems to fit the bill.

On opening the windows on a Cessna, I've done that many times with later models, the ones with the spring loaded single window strut, by removing the retaining screw. The window just floats to just below the wing and stays there until you slow down, and it gradually lowers itself--doesn't slam. That's really handy for photography work, in which even a clean window can distort or otherwise get in the way.

I'm not particularly tall at 5'10", and getting shorter each year it seems, but I have a long torso. So in a standard Cessna non-articulating seat, I'm above the wing root, too. When I was instructing, that was an issue, but it seems as if most Cessnas built since the 70s have the articulating seats on the left if not both. I have one in my 63 P172D, but it is actually a right side seat installed on the left by a previous owner. Lowering it works out for me very well, and I can see under the root pretty easily.

Cary

Bubble window selfie