Personally I make skins that I like and use. If I don't add a shitload of buttons or make a wacky titlebar, that doesn't mean I'm afraid to push the envelope. It's just not my style.

For the record, I don't always do boring skins........

Buttons right - buttons left.  The WB skin I'm using ATM has Style 1 - Buttons Left, Style 2 - Buttons Right.  These are the Min-Max-Close buttons. 

WindowFX 4 is and odd bird. Although it doesn't skin anything, it does things to windows and GUI that are not natural. (didn't our parents tell us about things like that?)  Skins and programs like that should carry warning labels, "Objects in the mirror.." Oops, wrong label "Beware, programs (skins) like this will seriously mess you up unless you take enough time (that you should be doing something else) to learn them."

Never mind. My humor is weird anyway. Back to figuring out some icons.

Tim.... You have never made a boring skin yet!!!!! B[]

And that, my friend, are the two main reasons for skinning!!

"Skin what You like, Like what you skin"  

and skin for yourself and fu*k what every one else thinks of it.

There's something to be said about a clean interface though. I happen to work best when there is less visual distraction in any workspace (physical or digital), but don't get me wrong. I love shiny things! It seems there are many over-thought/contrived designs, that are just not edited down and end up detracting from the overall intended concept. I see boxes outlined eveywhere with some kind of border or stretch graphics, but it's repeated on everything. It might as well be a million squares of plaid that don't line up. Adding more buttons with skins like that isn't going to help those skins other more serious concerns. In this case, less is more. If you add more buttons, simplify the styling. It can't have every bell and whistle, unless it's supposed to be in the circus. Please PLEAAASEEEEEEE?