I’m with you. There seems to be a general consensus the keeping things “catalogue correct” is the ideal scenario ’round here. If not that, then subdued appearances are the next best approach. I think some of it is cultural, as I observe that we like loud designs in the US while folks on the European continent are drawn to bland aesthetics.
Obviously, any bike you build is your own, and you should appease none other than yourself.
I find that for my bikes, my brain has an algorithm that weighs retro, aesthetic, color, reliability, resale, ease of use, theme, durability, and purpose of any given component I slap onto my ride. That algorithm is continually variable and I can in no way define even for myself what it is. Intuition is the only voice that says “that’s just right, you’re done building”.
Bottom line, this is my rulebook, and I urge all others to follow suit;