Recently, I bought an OnGuard Brute U-Lock, which I feel is about as secure as the Kryptonite New York U-Lock. The former does seem to have noticeably more "play" in the shackle–locking-bar connection, but that probably doesn't make it "technically" inferior.

Part of security is, indeed, visual deterrence, and we might want to consider a thief will be less likely to attack a lock he or she knows is difficult to defeat than to attack one everyone is aware is mediocre. Of course, much depends on one's neighborhood, luck, etc.