Brocolt,
I too love the bar code, if it were just me, it would definitively be on the lower. But the majority speaks and seems not wanting the bar code... shame, because as you said, it would be a heck of unique design!
My feeling is that most guys want a custom lower, BUT want to stay conservative in the design. My advice would be : c'mon guys, let's dare a little bit and have a lower that's going to make turn heads at the range! (in a good non-cheezy way)