First of all you have the “cosmetic” finish, what looks good on the surface. Yes, it for sure does not hurt to make something look good.
Second, and in my strange mind more important, is the functional finish, pivot polishing to prevent friction, perlage in certain places to capture to capture micro particles, polished teeth on a cog wheel and so on.
Third you have the traditional craftsman finish, black polish and blued screws and sunk jewel and screw holes.
I believe Geneva stripes is more a show of, frosted surface is less impressive but actually harder to make. Anglage and edge polishing is beautiful when not over-done.
So the answer from me is kind of Winnie the Poo; yes both please. But I would choose a well constructed, functional movement with less cosmetics over a mediocre movement with a nice surface without any real “watchmaking” quality.