I for one like the backplate. I know everyone says it's ugly as all get out, but it actually looks really good IMHO. Sets it apart from the smooth, rounded design of the iPhone, and looks really nice as VZW's next phone in the DROID lineup. They definitely took some design cues from Motorola. FWIW, I thought the DROID was a good looking phone also (save for the d-pad), which I know a lot of people hated. Also, given the thickness of the phone, I would be surprised if ridges on the backplate would have a huge impact on feel - they're pretty shallow. Aesthetically, they may have more of an impact, but that ultimately is a matter of opinion.
All the same, I would love to see some smoother backplates. The more people VZW can get on board, the more successful and the more of a priority the DROID Incredible will be (man, calling it that just feels weird now).