Less is more in my opinion. Going with unfinished parts won't scratch and fade over time and stay looking nice.

RE: get a seagull bag: I shopped around on other bags: seagull, timbuk2, manhatten portage and chrome are the only bags to consider.

Chrome is the cheapest unless you get the basic model on the other bags (note timbuk2 color combos and other upgrades on the other brands). Plus the shoulder support on chrome is clearly the best although it limits you to wearing it on one shoulder.

I got my bag, a chrome metro for 60 on Clist, wait it out as well to get a good deal and you can't go wrong.