> What's really amusing is that a previous generation of art critics had exactly the same complaints about the "spectacularly flexible and inarguably lovely" neon signs that this guy likes.

Is that really true though? Neon can be beautiful, e.g. see Dan Flavin. LEDs can be beautiful too, e.g. Leo Villareal. It's not about the medium, it's about the execution.

Maybe it's not a big deal in the scheme of things, but cities are hostile enough as is. It's the little things that can add up to making a place pleasant to live and work in or not...