Perhaps a simple explanation comes from looking at this from the eye of the producer and seller of such objects. They produce plates in 20 different patterns f

Perhaps a simple explanation comes from looking at this from the eye of the producer and seller of such objects. They produce plates in 20 different patterns for example, and find some sell out, some sell half, some don't sell at all. So the producer is now out the cost of the ones that don't sell. They can concentrate on the patterns that sell better, but there is probably always some uncertainty in which patterns will sell the best. If they produce one reasonable unpatterned plate no one will reject it because of the pattern, so perhaps patternless or extremely simple-patterned objects result in more profit. If you're in the fashion or a fad-linked business then patterns matter, but otherwise complexity would seem to invite rejection since personal tastes vary widely and probably become more finicky as patterns get more elaborate. There is a lot of clothing in the US that is simply destroyed every year when it doesn't sell. It takes time and effort to find out which patterns people like each year.