How Much Do Aesthetics Factor Into Your Decisions?

What looks good or bad is a very personal decision, but if a manufacturer can't make a product that looks good to somebody, then they probably can't make one that sounds good to anybody.  The two go hand in hand.  It doesn't have to be stylish or ornate, but a product should look like someone took a few minutes to think about how it looks.  As an example, I had waffle iron that had plastic feet and when you stored the iron upright the plastic feet made a smiley face.  So simple and they didn't have to do it, but they cared.  The waffles clearly tasted better!

Having owned a Audiostore I have found that  over 50% of mfg rely on 👁️ candie.

Mcintosh is a perfect example it’s parts quality are not even close to say Gryphon 

even MCs best , Luxman , and many other companies ,Audio Research ,and CJ 

too lived on their Past , it’s inside that counts most ,that’s where I would look at 1st 

the cabinet last of course you want it to look decent but not the main goal.

The only aesthetic I hate is black faced equipment. Need a light directly on the unit’s face to read the nomenclature.

Can't say as I've seen to many high quality pieces that were unattractive.  Is it really a thing?

Zero. I have my own house of stereo, so who would care what my equipment looks like, not I, sound only. It's like art, you either like artwork on your walls that mean something or ones that match the drapes. That right there will separate the true audiophiles from the rest. And I love them all, just saying.