The form-over-function people, that is, the ones who are more concerned with how things appear than how they are, are responsible for a great deal of problems in this world.
Why does a tucked-in uniform shirt and no visible tattoos matter? Because Juan Trippe had a hard-on for naval uniforms 100 years ago? Please. We should be wearing flight suits realistically or other practical clothing, but many of us live in a world where we think that "how things appear" is "how they are."
The confusion between "oooh pretty" and "effective and functional" is why the taller politician tends to win. It's the
"halo effect" and it's not a valid heuristic but it's here to stay.