Looks are for posers, in a sense.

If function is your main goal and the looks happen to come along with it, like with the products you mentioned, then your main goal is still function. But if your main goal is Aesthetics and you just happen to buy quality parts but your main reason for buying them was the look, well then arguably you are a poser.

I dont subscribe to that belief, but it could be argued.

Though I pretty much hate the talk of posers and hipsters. If you do it for looks, great. If you do it for function, great. Just dont hate on other people for their reasons to ride.