I have yet to hear any friend of mine (99% not interested in aviation) say ANYTHING about the shape/look/number of engines attached etc. It is (in no order) all the usual things: [list=1][*]Seat pitch[*]Seat width[*]Food[*]IFE[*]Saftey of carrier[*]Punctuality[*]Price[/list=1]
I understand that the marketing people want to push the brand but the general public do not make their choice of carrier and route, based on the brand of a/c (Note that I say the general public!) Also, don't forget that the word 'jumbo' may now officially be used by any media hack about any a/c that has more than two pax on board.
As to the look of the 7E7. When you remove the paint from the impressionistic marketing pictures and have a plane white plane ... it looks much like you would expect - the development of a 75/76/77!