I agree with you--but if you peruse any gun magazines today as well as look over gun maker's web sites, you can help but realize that is the goal of many models of actual assembly line 1911s.  It isn't jut custom guns anymore, though those have gone far over the hill. 

Gun makers such as Kimber and Nighthawk are offering very silly looking pistols that do nothing to enhance shootability, and in my opinion are unlovely as well.  Kimber now has one in light blue and cream color they mean to resemble a late 1950s era Chevy. 

I think the best custom makers now are offering 1911s that embrace the "less is more" philosophy.  the best 1911s have always featured gunsmithing you don't really see, because it has to do with internal fitting.  All you need on the outside is exceptionally straight, clean lines, and a lack of current fads.  You can still find pistols like that from both old and new gunsmiths.

By the way, the Damascus steel slides are still available from Caspian on a special order basis, and they continue to sell, based on the number of times I keep seeing them.  when used on an otherwise plain pistol that doesn't detract or draw the eye away, the Damascus is attractive in my eye, much more so than on the pistol featured in that photo.