Is it just me, or is this somewhat similar to Suntour Commands?

I love it...and I'd have used this on a few bikes if the option had existed.

As to Roger's comment on aesthetics (which I appreciated because it was more honest than we usually are), beauty is in the eye of the beholder. To me things that work are also beautiful and I think it looks interesting. I think sometimes we confuse aesthetically attractive with things that we grew up with and are used to. Yes - it's different, but that doesn't mean ugly.