I don't know how it is with all of the apps but some its not a matter of needing bling with gradient backgrounds and non-stock icons everywhere but a polished look. Does the plain look make Dialcentral / ejpi / Gonvert / quicknote ugly?
you can "vote with your dollars" where in this case your dollars are the programs you install.
Something to consider: pure coders tend to be more receptive to guidance in their craft than interface designers. No decent coder wants his/her app running with bugs. They make it look bad. Artists tend to think that their work is the best approach, so they're not as receptive to constructive criticism. They don't think in terms of "bugs". How can their art be flawed?