[Jugurtha]

It doesn't matter, for several reasons:

Smartphones have no exclusivity or wealth signaling potential; both the rich and the poor can afford one. They're basically the new feature phone. I don't think anyone would brag about something everyone could afford. (i.e: no rich person would brag about an iPhone).

Some of the most expensive things go unnoticed to the 'untrained' eye. It might be by design in an inside joke spirit. Not many would recognize John Lobb shoes, Scabal suits, or Patek Philippe watches.. I wouldn't, but some would. They do look good and have an appeal to the hacker inside everyone who loves things well made, especially things custom made. Bespoke shoes is as 'hackery' as it gets.

>Or maybe they're just way ahead of the curve when it comes to the inevitable retro craze for turn-of-the-century phone design

Vertu's design has been consistent over the years as far back as I can remember.