This is really what the issue boils down to. It's an aesthetic measure, and what you have are two of the cyclist subsets with the strongest aesthetic senses in the fixed gear crowd and the C&V crowd. When they collide it's always a bit overheated.

But then again, so is the garish tackiness of many FG conversions.

That is an aesthetic judgement. I'll gladly express an aesthetic opinion, but ultimately it is their bike and they can do what they want with it.

I will say the FG crowd has a ways further to wander into the forest of tacky. They have yet to equal the garish hideousness of many roadie jerseys, for example. But many roadies appear to have no aesthetic sense at all, otherwise they wouldn't buy Cervelos . Perhaps the Cervelo people surgically remove their buyer's aesthetics along with their wallets. The FG crowd does have an aesthetic sense, it just ain't mine or that of most of the denizens of this board.