[scoutt]

> biased towards he or she who made the so-called effort of dressing to look the part

Anecdote: my wife is a psychologist. They are taught to observe how a patient presents him/herself at an appointment. Is her/him presentable? What about personal hygiene? Does he/she take care of him/herself? These are characteristics that say a lot, and should be taken into account when meeting someone. There is a difference between taking care of oneself and trying to appear like something else by wearing branded clothes, or to appear like something else by dressing like a 60's hippie (or whatever).

> And I would pick a reliable, self-aware, well-rounded, face tattooed, green haired and barefoot colleague

Me too. But the first 3 are characteristics you wouldn't know for a while. In the meantime you have to work the hiring with what you see. Unfortunately, it's like that.

I also believe that the worst and most dangerous people in the world walk around in expensive suits, behave correctly in public and never say a bad word.