I've always thought planed texture was handsome, and am quite fond of the rippled surface left by scrub planes.

Fast (for what it is) on band-mill sawn timber, and there is far less danger of tearout on Oak.

http://www.wkfinetools.com/contrib/cschwarz/z_art/scrubplanes/scrubPlanes1.asp

"We build too many walls and not enough bridges" - Isaac Newton

http://bridgewright.wordpress.com/