I'm very open minded with respect to aesthetics, as it's a highly personal/subjective thing, hence me questioning "will always" be superior. I just don't get that. Anyhow, who's to say that a matched set has to be a "mono colour mono texture canvas"? I can think of many matched kit examples that are anything but your description, including matched kits that we produce. Again, subjective. Not wishing to argue as such, but just because something is always superior in your view, doesn't mean it's always superior in everyone's view. That's the same as me stating that all solid shell drums are superior to all ply shell drums. Even if I believed that (& I don't), it's way too absolutist to be of merit outside of my own preferences.