@Kent
I actually feel the opposite on the beauty aspect of the new braid.
I feel like it's much lovelier than the original. It's more versatile in style than before. I loved the old braid, but I couldn't just seem to make it look right...it felt unnatural with the braid kind of waving off of the avatar's back. The new braid just has life to it and seems to be flowing off the back rather than just stuck there. I did like the old style, but it's so much more usable now, but it still has the same feel. Much like the other older hairstyles that have been updated. :3