Doesn't this make it look more like one of those flip-around stereos... the kind where when the car is off, the faceplate simply turns around and is just plain black?

Mine doesn't look like that, but I can't vouch for anyone else's. Keep in mind that my purpose for the cover is not to protect the empeg. I protect the empeg by bringing it with me. The cover is there to protect my windows from getting needlessly broken.

I agree that those flip-around things (or the ones that just go black) are useless and pitifully obvious.