Yeah I have to say the only things I dont like about their guitars are the headstocks. Also I am not a fan of emg's but I am sure if you just switched out the pickups for something else the guitars whole just be perfect, playability wise and price wise. I have always been nothing but shocked by them. And as far as the look of them being 'too metal' I dont really care just as long as they sound good. I once played a jackson rhoads, probably the most metal looking guitar and yet the thing sounded great for jazz stuff. Go figure.
They made one that looked more "Fenderish" before this one. Straight 6 tuners, dots, no goofy 12th fret inlay. This exact model was in a pawnshop by me for $175 bucks but I found the neck way too skinny.
Also at one time they made a nice strat copy. Dont know if they still make them anymore but those things were nice. And if I remember correctly they made them all distressed and cool looking.