I agree with some of what you say. However nice and realistic are 2 different things. I don't think minimalistic is representatives of what is available to fish on a coral reef. Of course even with my own reefscape it's not giving the same area as on a reef at least not on the reefs I have dived and snorkeled on but given the fish I keep its a lot closer to what they would find. When somebody tells me their tang sleeps against the side glass in their mimimalistic setup it concerns me. All my fish have much more natural places to rest up at night or just to escape for whatever reason.Just because it is a minimalist aquasape does not mean it will not have plenty of hidings spaces.
If done right it will have both rockwork for hiding and plenty of swim room.
I really think you can have both....
There are some really nice aquariums out there.