Agreed, I think UI app development comes down to experience of the developer and how long they want to spend writing it. If a users experience is properly taken into consideration then the app should look to encorporate the simple sleek UI for everyday use, with the added backend or admin access for those who want more power.

Little or no visual apparel might make it work quick as might a gfx heavy app might be the reverse. If someone can find the right balance between, just enough bling to look nice but not get in the way then it might be a working start!