One factor is runaway masculinity. Another factor is puritanism.

Personally, I am guilty of every cliche here. My stuff is butt ugly most of the time and not-ugly at best. So I need to find a way to bring good design into my work.

What do you think of your own work, Greg? The garishness of the old player (http://grabb.it/pages/old) had a visual playfulness that created some user value. How come you killed the walking carrot?