Afraid I agree. The Nitto models are certainly very nicely finished, but I still have an issue with the fact they are simply designed to sit low atop a headset. Even with a taller stem adapter for a threaded steering tube they just tend to look "top-heavy". Threadless style stems are commonly tilted slightly or even steeply upward which to my eye looks awkward on a bike with basically a horizontal top tube. And this also makes the "effective" reach more difficult to judge than a simple traditional stem which is easy to anticipate the actual forward reach for your preferred handlebar height.

I do have to admit I really like the convenience of "front-loading" stems. It is unfortunate that most modern bikes are made for threadless steering tubes. This means that we will probably never see the evolution of a simple, fairly tall, traditional quill stem (like the Technomic Deluxe) made also with a front bolting bar clamp.

Now something like THAT would pretty much define my personal dream stem