My $.02:
I prefer the good looking guns, and I like all shapes and sizes. Blued guns with wood are my favorite, but there is place for color case hardening, and stainless, and polished stainless, and nickel, and on and on.
However, I love to know and understand everything about these tools. That means I like to take them apart and work on them. So, sometimes I buy an ugly gun on purpose, knowing there is some chance I might screw it up. However, I do this so that I can get to know a piece without any chance of messing up a beauty.
Example: I bought a Kareen Hi-Power so I could get an in-depth, down and dirty knowledge of the high power without ever risking a scratch to an FN made Browning.
Example: bought a cheap and beat Iver Johnson double action revolver just to take apart and get to know the workings of the DA revolver without any risk to a "better" gun. I also thought this one would be good practice for "re-finishing" some time later.
In sum, there is a place for both types at the table in my house.