Carl Valle said:

I believe that many high end designs, particularly analog, turntables, tape
decks, and such were designed not only with sound but also asthetic goals in
mind.

Of course they were. The aesthetic aspect of high-end audio galls the 'borgs
no end. To Them, something that is both expensive *and* attractive is doubly
sinful. They can't help bemoaning the "extra expense" that a beautiful
design entails. To The, a properly moral piece of audio gear not only is
drab and utilitarian, it also looks drab and utilitarian. The less room for
subjectivity, the better the Krooborg likes it.