I can honestly say I like all gloss levels. Every project is different, and sometimes I feel like an ultra-glossy finish is part of my design. Other times, I want something that looks very natural and not glossy at all. I’ve even been known to mix surfaces on the same project, like a table with a glossy top and satin legs and apron.
I hear some guys say that they don’t like glossy finishes because they look too plastic. But there is a big difference between slapping on gloss polyurethane with a brush, and creating a flawless mirror finish. IMO, getting a glossy finish right is one of the most challenging things in woodworking.
-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"
