Valid points, pfr. But just because your observations about audiences are true doesn't mean they make sense. For example, given the poor-quality music the average person tolerates in pop, I doubt if the listeners can tell the guitars apart. Sure, one extreme is noticeably different from another extreme, but I suspect that with most of the guitars, the risks in hauling them about are not justified.

That is so sad about the gear burnt in storage.

Starship, I believe that guitar was custom-designed for a trained octopus.