Agreed, they are profoundly ugly objects. Looks like someone manifested a 3-year-old's drawing of a milk float.

Surely we as a species still appreciate things looking _good_ as part of an objective goal?

surely that deters people from stealing them

I think they are cute little duck vans. Look at that duck bill. Quack!

I dunno, they make me smile because they are so ugly/goofy.