This may have already been mentioned in this somewhat older thread (maybe even by me) but preferences for or against flutes are hard to figure. In revolvers, unfluted cylinders (actually, that should be non-fluted as unfluted suggests flutes were once present but were removed) are less common so they are considered "higher-grade" by some people. Rifle barrels, other other hand, usually are non-fluted (fluteless?) so flutes are popular on custom barrels and more costly rifles and are becoming more common on many standard production rifles.

Beauty still is in the eye of the beholder and no one will ever get a firm grasp on the buying public's preferences.

Ed