I'm gonna throw in my 2 cents. Most buyers who would have bought the 950 but decided against it based on looks are not browsing this forum. On the other hand, most buyers who looked past or even like the 950's looks and purchased one are much more likely to frequent and post their thoughts here.

I for one would buy the 950 in a heartbeat if it looked better (silver perhaps?). It might seem strange to some, but the appearance of audio gear like this is very important to me. Of course it isn't as important as performance, but that's why I'm willing to pay more to get equal or better performance and great looks. I bet there are a lot of people out there who feel the same way but don't post here because they either
a)Never come to this forum.
b)Are happy with whatever other pre/pro they purchased instead.

I had no interest to post here even though I would buy a 950 if it looked better. The only reason I did so was because grundrc started keeping a tally of votes.