I feel ya.

In the case of Apple, it is clear they continue to be guided by:

  symmetry > asymmetry
  cool > warm
  smooth > texture
  delicate > robust
  light > heavy
  bare > detailed

However, they have retired these principles:

  bold > cautious
  whimsy > seriousness
  object > item

Apple used to stay interesting because they made whimsical and bold objects like the Macintosh, the clamshell, the iMac, and the iPod. They have always had products in derivative phases of evolution, but now their entire product line has converged into a state of derivation, so much so, that they are obviously sacrificing UX for form factor. The only way that this might be ok, is if their software experience didn't feel like it was on exactly the same course, but it is on that course, and it is getting worse. Apple products have very little soul. They have gone from Next Generation to THX1138.

I would argue that we have been suffering sleekness for so long, because Pottery Barn is so much cheaper to produce than Rococo.

For most of human existence, ornamentation was a sign of wealth and taste. Sleek and shiny objects and buildings are only nifty when they are an expression of new technological and material possibilities

but when they are not

We have a hard time giving a shit.