The X32 lost to the X35 (which became F35), not the F22 Raptor. The X32 performed worse in range/payload capacity, Boeing had lots of difficulties developing S

The X32 lost to the X35 (which became F35), not the F22 Raptor. The X32 performed worse in range/payload capacity, Boeing had lots of difficulties developing STOVL on the platform, the delta wing design was less efficient, and Lockheed was still riding high on its success with the F22 program (which no one has really bothered competing with decades later) so it's unlikely that aesthetics were the deciding factor.