[mannicken]

Actually, yes. The research in neuroaesthetics has shown some interesting results that point out humans' natural preference towards straight, rather than oblique lines: http://www.wfu.edu/psychology/faculty/pubs/schirillo/Article...

I do not know where the author got his "curved lines pull people in" effect.

I also feel like simple vignettes on the corners would make tablets seem much more sophisticated and intricate.

Another related URL: http://www.artlebedev.com/mandership/147/ here Lebedev talks about the difference between simplicity and primitivism. This probably most closely hints at what I think is wrong with Apple's design.