Naturally there's going to be people out there that like it (look at the popularity of the K-Car millions of years ago) and there are going to be people that don't like it (look at the derision towards the K-Car).
The point isn't that it comes down to a simple matter of taste, design and aesthetics CAN be debated from more than just an aribitrary position. If popularity with the public or with laymen was any indication of good design...then, well, Laz-y-boy would probably have a booth set-up at the Milan Furniture Fair every year. which, to the best of my knowledge, they don't have. sarcasm aside, you've got a pretty bleak view of what should be criticised aesthetically - "so the people intended to use it are not intended to have any say in what it looks like, nor are they supposed to care." that's precisely where you're wrong. everything should be well-designed, and educational settings are no different. but i digress.
Apple's doesn't, often, put out ugly, ungainly objects - they leave that up to compaq. so when Apple DOES put out something that looks - incomplete - it's a bit of a shock. yes it looks sterile. yes it looks 'utilitarian', but its undeserving of being lauded as elegant and sophisticated. clean...sure...i'll bet it's really clean. shiny, yup. bloated looking? yup. so if what you're after is a shiny, white, clean computer - this is perhaps your best bet. if what you're looking for is something that pushes the boundaries of industrial design beyond corian-countertop meets boeing nose-cone than you might have to look a little harder.