Rustication, yes it's used to cover a world of "sin," imperfections by the boatload, and it can be slapdash, funky, funny, folksy, cheap-looking, misguided, and plain ugly. On the other hand, some is done with artistry and craftsmanship and comes over as its own genre, carefully done and with dignity. And sometimes folksy or funky or other original approaches have their own commendable qualities. I have a number of rusticated pipes, and semi-rusticated pipes that seem to me to be done with a tasteful touch, that I really like. As with other finishes, textures, and modes, rustication can go extremely well or horribly wrong. But I take it on a pipe-by-pipe basis, on the premise that some rustication can be acceptable, and some is good, and other is excellent. Some of the goodness, and some of the ugliness, is in the eye of the beholder.