I have a Technics turntable in my office system that I purchased sometime around 1978 for I think $150 and I have a Clearaudio turntable in my main listening room that costed over $3K.
Love the looks of both turntables and they both sound great paired up with their perspective systems.
Aesthetics definitely play an important part in the turntable you choose because if you don't like the looks it will affect your enjoyment.
Following up on another post all parts of the system will affect the SQ but the turntable and cartridge play a major roll.