What's wrong with wanting your stuff to look nice? Audioholics rates cables when they're reviewed on their appearance, so it must have some weight. Obviously, if you're running them in walls, then you don't need your cables too look nice. But, if you have a dedicated room with cables that are very obvious, then I think some sleek Techflex is worth it. Face it: Canare's PVC jacketing isn't all that attractive. Part of what makes a system high-end is the fit and finish of the components. Part of the reason you buy certain things is because they will look good and impress your friends. Now, you can have the exact same cable (4S11) with and without techflex. No matter how you shake or bake it, the one that looks really nice will impress people more and just give your system a more high-end and cohesive look.
Well, there's my 2 cents. Just the long way of saying to not poke fun at people for wanting their hi-fi stuff to sound AND look nice.