Probably because motherboard manufacturers got keen on adding extra featres to market to users as cool extras, thinking this will sell in volume, because they will edifferent in soem way from the competition (it is hard to offer something different and really useful nowadays). But now everyone ended up doing the same things, so it is hard to find a good motherboard with the right features you want without the "shiny" marketing stuff attached. In the end you have to buy the model with extras, you don't actually need in order to get the features you want and that are not available on the cheaper version without the "shiny" stuff. Hopefully they will get back to their senses at some point.
Great point. To be fair they are marketing to high end gamers, the ones who are usually fighting over a pixel or two on the screen for crystal clear images. I am just of the belief that look does not choose my motherboard. If I wanted blair, I can get a gold painted case with a neon sign, but my motherboard doesn't need to look like an armored vehicle with christmas lights. Thank you.