I know in my head that I should take it as a complement but, again, like my cooking the phrases "it's to pretty to eat" and "It's to pretty/nice to use" set my teeth on edge.
I know what you mean. The Mrs. and I make cakes (wedding/birthday/party/whatever) and sometimes people will say that, and no one wants to cut them. The paycheck is the same whether they eat the cake or not, but the inside is the important part, not just the icing.

Those are beautiful knives. I like the cocobolo best.