I will say again that it's a design that is not to my taste. I neither said nor implied that it was a poor design, far from it!
Aesthetically it's a very interesting design, and I certainly understand why people would see it as beautiful. It's just that I don't much like it.
It's probably the best design that I would rather not own. But that's just me!
Will it look dated in twenty years? I have no idea, but I hope I'll be able to say in 2032.
Do Alpha designs of 1992 look dated now? I have no idea,! I don't know which boats they designed then!
To put a slightly different perspective on this, perhaps I should say what design features I would look to incorporate in a Broads cruiser.
I will add straight away that I have no idea if what I have in mind is practical, or even possible.
I come to the Broads to enjoy the views. It therefore follows that from any seated position (heads excepted) a person should be able to look out of the windows. This means large windows.
There are many places where moorings are stern on. Again I point out that I want to look out over water, this leads to having the main saloon forwards (bathtub style) however, for boat handling, the Centre cockpit is preferable in the fine weather. This leads us to a centre cockpit with duel steering , but bathtub design forwards.
Yes it needs to go under all the bridges, and the hull design needs to be low wash etc.
Aesthetically, it would be nice if it looked good.
As you can tell from this, my priorities are not the same as those in your remit. Mine are with those on board, not those onboard something else looking at yours.
Yours have greater priority to those looking in a catalogue and thinking about booking it. This is of course totally reasonable! Mine would probably have the looks that "Only a mother could love".
Are our differing views mutually exclusive? Are there compromises to be had? or have those compromises already been made. Perhaps that is how the Bathtub came about, with the centre cockpit conceded to allow better accommodation! I don't know.
As a family, we have hired/owned Aft cockpit boats, Centre cockpit boats and Forward wheelhouse boats . We have been doing this for close on fifty years now, and as a family we do not even agree with each other as to which is best. My parents come out firmly in favour of Royal Ambassador as the best they've ever hired. I say Royal Diamond was better. Neither opinion is right, merely different.