Engraving is an art and different forms (styles) of engraving are like the different forms of any art. Suits some and makes others feel less than lovely shall we say. Even then within each school of engraving style there are well done examples and those done either too quickly or be the less talented. Both disappoint.
Look at it from the engravers viewpoint. You are great at rose and scrolls but someone wants classic flying turnips from the 1890's. You take the work and make your best flying turnips which even if great are not great. Worse is if you do the job and your flying turnips look more like ducks, than they should, then the effect is ruined. Hard to be a true artist and please the peasants.
Now compare it to a artist painting a picture. You are a great portrait painter and someone wants a abstract painting. How hard can that be? If this is not your style you will do a mediocre job at best without the use of heavy drugs.;) Styles are hard to do and take years to master. When done well they hold together well when not they look like sloppy work or just pain old crap.
When I look at a style I see if it looks even, everything is tight and holds together well. Rushed jobs tend to be very open, very uneven in cut depths and just very amateurism. Its like porn, you know it when you see it and your porn may not be porn to some others.
