I like to flatter myself to think I put performance over look and feel.
Truth is I would struggle not having both. Despite what I want to believe.
Let me give you an example. When one of our engineers completes a new design I usually get it delivered to me for auditioning on a piece of particle board. The controls are dangling off of a cable and if I look at it wrong it might shut down.
But, sonically, it represents close to what you will eventually receive in a new product.
That works for me. In fact, I have lived with such arrangements for up to a month.
But, in the end, the outside has to match the inside.