That's the thing, all phones are ugly, but folding phones bring such life improvements that nobody seems to care.

I bought mine because it's useful, it's weird to read that someone would think that it's a status symbol. Are noise canceling headphones a status symbol too for you?

Noise cancelling is a feature and useful. Airpods? Annoying, I can't tell if the person on the sidewalk is trippin' or talking to someone on the phone via their difficult to see airpods.