No hard feelings, man. All is good! :) In relation to the topic you've raised: Bigger can actually be better, sometimes. Themes with larger elements (shortcuts, buttons, etc...) pushed up against a screens edge function more efficiently, according to Fitz's law of GUI's. A larger button presents a larger target. That's why labelling buttons makes them more efficient; they not only become more easily discernible at a glance, but they're easier to hit.

Making the GUI look more life-like, well, that's usually just for fun. I came from a WindowBlinds/DesktopX background, where everybody attempts to make a more visually appealing environment, as opposed to 'Steppers, who tend to prefer stark minimalism.