Forget looks.... let's talk functionality! What's up with the new high end preamps that have NO controls at all. How is that a preamp?? Also, many just have one control knob, but no labeling. How would you ever know how to turn on the stereo without some instructions??
Many higher end preamps are dated and ugly, why is this?
Conrad Johnson, BAT, VTL are all very good preamplifiers, they are dated and just ugly. Audio research is a prettier amplifier but it's not very well regarded due to it sounding more like a solid state, ie. Not really a tube preamp despite all those internal lightbulbs.
Cheaper preamps can be more pretty. Schitt makes a pretty preamp for about $1000. People like pretty.
D'Agostino by many is viewed as very attractive but kind of weird.