aesthetics vs reality?

OK here's a goofy idea but here goes: To what extent does a boat's aesthetics over-rule true functionality? I once owned a Hells Bay Professional. It was a truly gorgeous boat. I hated the poling platform on that boat. It seemed like it was a mile up in the air climbing up on that thing. It took rough water like a champ. Truly amazing when put the bow down into chop what it would do. It was a heavy boat comparatively. It drafted near 8" on the pole. I had to get Mac to help me fix the outboard position on the jackplate because HB doesn't do that. It would run really pretty skinny after that. So there's a few of the functional items. Aesthetically it was drop-dead pretty. That hull shape and design is classic no doubt. For $63k it seems like maybe they would be a little more receptive to rigging the boat correctly so the tunnel can actually works.

Fast forward to now: I have been trying to get rides on other boats in a quest to find whatever is going to be my next. The most functional so far I have found is the New Water Stilt. It is 20' long and 5' wide. Tippy as hell. Poles like an absolute dream. Does not seem to sail with the wind on the pole either. Not a particularly good looking boat to my eye, it is so damned narrow. I just cannot get my mind to accept that but it does seem to be very functional poling. There is no way no how that my Professional would ever do what that Stilt will do. The tunnel works perfectly, it comes with an awesome cav plate, drafts around 4" (for real) and I poled it around a good bit while fishing on a guided trip with Capt Chuck Naiser fishing on the back side of St. Joseph Island. At times it seemed like if it was any shallower it would be on dry land. Hole shot was ridiculous. First time I ever fished on a 20' poling skiff and I was blown away. Running back over a very windy Aransas Bay Chuck did not put the bow down into the chop so it did not ride as smooth as I suspect it could. But even then with about a 35 mph wind blowing we got not a drop on us. Ride was not smooth but it was not just horrible either.

I was really impressed with that boat. Much more so than I ever was with how the Professional worked, aside from being so beautiful. Like you dated a 10 but she was such a bitch, but got hooked up with a good solid 8+ (now your wife?) and she is just solid gold. Like that. So the original question: just how important are the looks and all when compared to how well the boat really does work? Seems like a good discussion and what the heck there is no racism or any other shit in here so there's that... =)