In order of importance- how accurately I can shoot it, How quiet it is, good cast,how it feels in my hand, elegant lines, cool wood and veneer.

Bonner

I'm practical and definitely prefer a functional bow over a looker.

Fortunately, you can get both beauty and performance from many of the bowyers out there, including many specialty features. I agree that performance is more important, but beauty does not have to be sacrificed. Most of the bows that I see pictured in the Gang that have descriptions of fine performance also look very nice in the pictures.

I, myself, am a very simple guy (No, Gregg Dudley, I did not say simpleton)and prefer the slim elegance of the Hill style bows with straight or dished grips. I also like glossy black finish over bamboo and the beautiful spotted Cheetah.

I like most like performance, but that said. I really like to have both. My new Caribow Tuktu EX will perform with the best of them and as far as looks there are none nicer. I also do not baby my bows whether they are $1000 or $50 they all get treated the same. I have been known to take my 1000 dollar bows bowfishing and drag them thru bunny brush. Afterall is said and done they are tools and I love to use my tools! Shawn

Like the old saying "pretty is as pretty does".  Exotic wood does nothing to increase the performance of a bow.  Sometimes exotic woods, if they are not a good match or don't go well together are less attractive to me than a simple bow with colored glass limbs.  Anything beyond functional is the often mentioned eye candy.  

That said, I love eye candy.  I am not willing to sacrifice performance for nice wood but you don't need to.  My Blacktail, Silvertip, Dye, and Robertson recurves don't shoot any better because they are easy on the eyes...but they are easy on the eyes...  

I go with how a bow feel in my hand, and when I shoot it. I like a bow with a grip that's not too fat and not too thin.  I'll go with  a thicker grip than one that's too thin.  I only have 1 bow that's made of exotic woods, I didn't pay for it though.  I'll take a bow I can shoot well over anything.

performance first, but I think you can have both!

love beautiful woods, it enhances the experience!

Just about every bow is w/in 10% or less in the performance department.So I feel one can have it both ways.Ornate and function.
I just comes down to price and desire.

Me,
I love a bow w/ 1 type of exceptional wood.Not a multi lam. or multi wood kinda guy.Great wood w/ a earthy feel for me.

Performance first.  Then if there is just a little osage or some other beautiful wood, it's a plus.