I don't like the feeling of an iPhone without a case, phone one, and they are not as durable as people make them out if you are in way rough with your devices. I toss them in backpacks, my workbench or toolbox at home with metal shavings and other junk, I take it hiking use it around rocks, etc., and I always lay my phone face down so I don't get distracted.
The contact I signed for my work phones states that I agree to keep it in it's case, no exceptions.
I don't give a flip about a "beautiful device". Durability > aesthetics. It's a tool, and I treat it like a wrench.