As a programmer I think that well-written code can be beautiful. A pithy, innovative Python script should be worth more than, say, a script that powers a run-of-the-mill to-do list app.

At the same time, I think it's understandable that users and investors don't evaluate startups the way I do, using a programmer's mindset. They're more interested in how well the overall idea has been executed from design, marketing and user experience standpoints.