Many higher end preamps are dated and ugly, why is this?

One person's sexy is another person's ugly, and vice versa.... People do have different aesthetic tastes, after all... 

That classe stuff embodies everything i hate about US design.

Sharp edges and corners- terrible feng shui. Ye olde tourist trappe script- urgh.

Oversize faceplates, rack mounts that noone uses, unsoftened brutalism throughout, no. Just no

My Rogers integrated and phono pre look so cool that several female non-audiophiles have said, “ooh” and “ahh”.  This was unprecedented in my experience.  It also contributes to domestic harmony.   

PS Audio equipment are designed to look nice, compatible with each other & look  like high quality gear, equipment.  Buy, all!.