How important is component “aesthetics” to you?

why are you putting things in "quotes" ?

Low on the list.....sound is paramount.    My amps for instance have no aesthetics , they are as plain as can be, have no fascia / front panel but sound fantastic.

Speakers are another matter ,  while obviously they have to sound great , its nice if they are attractive especially if you live with someone who maybe thinks the pursuit of good sound is dumb.....

My Revels are the first speaker in our 25 + years together she said were "pretty" so their aesthetics paid off i guess.....  I have had some ugly ones.......always kind of ignored the WAF , being fortunate to have two "family rooms"   

Sound is critical but looks help.  Op should look at Raven Audio they make some of the best looking and sounding tube amps that money can buy.  I have a Reflection Integrated MK2 tube amp that is a thing of beauty and outstanding power and sound.  I actually have it as a show piece and every time a guest comes into my house they want to know what that cool looking piece of machinery is.   

Zavato,
I loved my MR78, C-29, MC2105 and MC2300 with the lights dimmed.  Mac makes some of the best looking gear, proving that you can have good looks and superb sound.  These days things are simpler for me.  It's a Sansui 9090DB which looks and sounds wonderful. 

I have recently noticed that many high end systems are so  ugly I could never live with them. Speaker cables the thickness of a coke bottles strung across the floor on little speaker towers, thick stiff patch cables hanging from preamps, room tunes stuck to walls and ceilings, huge separate stands for amplifiers that were designed to sit on the floor...come on people it's a stereo!

I must be getting old, this stuff just looks so silly.  I am a musician and I insist on good sound, but also a good looking system that blends with my wife's tasteful decor is likewise important to us both.
Some systems just look comical.

N.

Aesthetics are important to me.  Call me shallow, but I like my electronic gear to be beautiful as well as sound amazing.  I think Levinson is some of the most rewarding gear to own in terms of appearance and man/machine tactile interface.  They do it right IMO.