Actually, I think that they're rather beautiful.................if you keep your distance.
My largest diversion was 180 nm off track on a Brisbane to Melbourne flight, where the radar painted 'solid' on our left as we paralleled the line looking for a break. I was in the early stages of thinking that a turn-back might be a viable option when a teeny weeny hole (visual and radar) appeared on the left, which we headed for with great haste. As we passed through, 2 opposite direction traffic (one above and one below) zipped past us. Conversation between the three of us indicated that it was the only gap that any of us had seen.
I'd always thought of Australia as one of the greatest thunderstorm factorys, but the 'Mother of all thunderstorms' that I've ever seen are over Romania.
There's only one acceptable thunderstorm technique - Avoid, avoid, avoid! I've had to occasionally pick the 'softest spot' in a typhoon spiral, and even then the softest spot would put any Disneyland roller-coaster ride to shame.
Regards,
Old Smokey