ehh, how exactly do they look like crap......they look exactly the same if you put a derlin top on the DD ones.......
Regarding the block. Considering it's price, for a few bucks more you'd wind up with a better performing impingement.
I don't know exactly what "Best mid-ranged" is supposed to mean since it's barely cheaper than a standard water block.
Only leap up from those is if you wanted to just be ridiculous and buy the silver ones, or even more, the storm g5 silver blocks or whatever they are called that are like $285 and dont give too much performance difference.