Amps with meters ...


are just a lot better than amps without meters.


erik_squires
+2, cleeds. 
IMO, amps doesn’t need to be ‘boring’. Aesthetics beyond SQ are purely subjective....while I don’t care for VU meter on Pass Amps, I do dig the VU meters on Accuphase and Luxman Amps. 
Graphic equalizers with twin rows of multi-colored LEDs bouncing up and down--now that was livin'...
I LOVE the big blue meters on my McIntosh amp.  Why should an amp be just a boring front panel with just an on/off switch?   I do have the ability to turn them off but why would I do that?
Any added piece of electronic that is not totally justified added also noise to the floor level noise...
@twoleftears  - You are dating yourself!
Preference here is for no fancy stuff.  I am having a pair of monoblocks made and the faceplates will have one very small LED and the manufacturer's name engraved, without the model name/number or anything else.  After it is engraved, the whole faceplate will be powder-coated black so the engraving will show as a somewhat subtle shading contrast.  Since all my gear is kept in a heavy, well-braced mission style cabinet, except the amps and speakers, my listening enjoyment does not rely on my being able to look at the gear.
All that said, I still remember being awed by the first high-end system I ever saw.  My friend's dad was an attorney and had a full McIntosh system with meters everywhere!  I also appreciate the retro look of Ralph's Atmasphere gear.