"To your point, this kind of visible detail in wood mimics the aesthetic of a fine craft that visually implies skill, quality, attention to detail - because thats what it takes to get the most out of that medium. In metal, this kind of visible joinery does the opposite, at least from the perspective of quality and craftsmanship. To get the most from the medium, metal should be formed to it's intended shape, and this is clearly a clever shortcut to make the medium more mass market friendly, cheaper and convenient. Those are desirable qualities to many consumers, but I think the average person has seen enough of these tricks to recognize it, and associate it with the likes of IKEA. Mass-produced, cheap, disposable, temporary."