Hi Les
This is an often debated subject which has no finite answer as there is no correct way of working, just the way 'we' want to work, for ourselves.
I have to ask, what does it matter,? and why do you ask this question. ?
Is it because you feel that people do not appreciate the unadulterated craftsmanship of a pure piece of work compared to something that has been added to.? or that they should hold the prior in more high regard than is current.?
You ask 'are we in danger of venturing too far down the same track', I have to ask, what is the danger if we do, and does it matter. ?
I enjoy producing both pure and coloured work, in the former I enjoy the pure form and inherent beauty of the wood, in the latter I use the wood as a canvas to express my thoughts, ideas and interests with no concern for the wood at all other than the base form.
For a piece to have the wow factor it has to start with have a solid foundation on which to build. A poor form and finish no matter how much it is added to will never hit the wow factor.
Paul Hannaby said something in a previous thread which was very true and poignant. It was in relation to the subject of creativity etc and went something like 'it is not important as it is only decoration'.
I would go as far to include all woodturning and much of what we do in life to this. None of it really matters and as long as we enjoy what we do then why concern ourselves with it.
The issue if looking at selling is slightly different, as mentioned later in your opener. In this instance picking your outlets will of course come down to the type of work you are trying to sell.
Many mixed media galleries for instance will not take woodturning as we know it as they sell contemporary, modern work, and will stock work that is in keeping with the style of the gallery.
Most woodturning is bowls, platters, candlesticks etc and hold little interest for them in relation to fitting in to the ethos of the gallery. It does not mean that they are not well made high quality items, just it does not fit in with the gallery style. It is not a negative just they sell modern stuff and most woodturning is very much of traditional style, take the ogee bowl for instance. They will take work but of a more sculptural/modern styles and then some just won't be interested in wood full stop.
Just like every outlet they sell what fits in with their style. Look at all the fashion outlets in the high street and you will see they all sell their own style for a particular market.
Mike and Cynthia sell their collaborative work for big bucks, that in itself may go some way to answer you, but most of all they will, I am sure enjoy deeply what they produce, this I imagine being the main driving forced behind their work.
The photographer you spoke to obviously sells his work to make money, it may even be his living. So if he has added to his work to make it more sellable, then surely he is thinking with a business head on. I think much in the same way, I send bread and butter items to the craft galleries where I know it will sell and my coloured sculptural work to those where I know I can get the correct money for them. If I did it the other way around I wouldn't make any money. Thats just business and marketing.