I have a different view in that a 'battered' bike means its been well ridden.

And, anyway, unless you are stopped and someone is going over your bike with a magnifying glass, minor scratches and streaks are irrelevant. If you're going to worry about anything anally, keep your drivetrain as clean as you can, keep the rims clean so your brakes work well. You can have the prettiest bike on the road but if it pedals like crap or the brakes are soft its not going to be much fun to ride.

Perhaps I'm this way because I own 1 road and 1 mountain bike. I do not see the need for a huge stable of multiple bikes. You can only ride 1 at a time.